Gills 

DICTIONARY 

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Gill’s 


DICTIONARY 

of the 


Chinook Jargon 


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With Examples of 

USE IN CONVERSATION 

And Notes Upon 

TRIBES and TONGUES 


FIFTEENTH EDITION 
Compiled by JOHN GILL 


Portland, Oregon 

Published by The J. K. Gill Company 
1909 







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Copyright 1909 
By The J. K. Gill Company 
All Rights Reserved 


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PREFACE 


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The first attempt at publication of a vocabulary of the 
trappers’ and traders’ Indian Jargon in use among the coast 
and interior tribes of the Northwest, was made by John 
Jewett, a sailor who was captured from the English ship 
Boston, which was surprised by the Indians at Nootka Sound, 
her captain and crew murdered—the sailor who issued his 
adventures under the title “The Captive in Nootka,’’ being 
the only survivor. 

Jewett had no means of writing while among the Indians, 
and the hundred words he records were written from mem¬ 
ory, presumably, some years after his escape, which occurred 
in 1806, the book referred to being printed in Middletown, 
Conn., 1815. 

The British explorers Cook, Meares and Vancouver record 
a few words spoken by savages encountered during their 
voyages in the waters of the Oregon coast. These words 
were either Chinook or Nootka. 

These early records prove that the same words, or deriv¬ 
atives now incorporated in the Chinook Jargon, retain their 
old significance. 

Several little books, mostly for traders’ use, have been 
printed in this Jargon. Some were intended for the special 
use of missions and missionaries; some as interesting addi¬ 
tions to philology. Among the men who have written the 
vocabularies and best treatises on the Jargon may be named; 
Dr. Franz Boas, Alexander Ross, Rev. Samuel Parker, Doc¬ 
tor Tolmie, Dawson, Rev. J. H. Frost, George Gibbs, Tate, 
Good, Winthrop, Swan, Hale and Rev. Dr. Eells. The latter 
translated into Chinook a number of hymns, which were 
published in Portland, 1889, and are still extant. A com¬ 
plete Bibliography of the Chinook was prepared by Mr. James 
C. Pilling (1889) and published by the Bureau of Ethnology, 
Smithsonian Institution. 

Our firm purchased the copyright of the Chinook Dic¬ 
tionary from S. J. McCormick, who published several edi¬ 
tions in Portland previous to 1880. McCormick’s first edition 
appeared in 1852. Shortly after our purchase a new edition 
was necessary, and we then attempted to reduce the con- 
flicting and various spelling of many words to a phonetic and 
simple form; also in that edition first indicating the sound of 



4 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


the vowels and accent of syllables. At that time, also, Rev. 
W. C. Chattin, who for twenty years had been a missionary 
among different tribes of the Northwest, gave us the advan¬ 
tage of his experience in the use of Chinook among our In¬ 
dians. By his authority also a considerable number of words 
in use among our inland tribes was added to the vocabulary. 
This first edition bearing our imprint was published in 1881, 
and printed by George H. Himes. 

Of the ancient language of the Chinooks about three hun¬ 
dred words are given in the present dictionary, the remainder 
being words from other coast languages, Nootka, Chehalis, 
Klickitat, Wasco and other ultramontane tongues. 

It is a remarkable fact that the Indian tribes, occupying 
so small a territory, and compelled to traffic, travel, make 
war and carry on such intercourse as their nomadic life 
required, spoke languages as different as the modern Swedish 
is from English. These languages were almost as numer¬ 
ous as the tribes themselves. In the strip of territory from 
the mouth of the Willamette to the ocean, several different 
languages were spoken, the Calapooia, Cowlitz, Clatsop, 
Multnomah and other tribes using among themselves only 
their own tribal language; but in voyages along the rivers or 
in hunting parties in the mountains, the Wasco Indian who 
happened to meet the Clatsop—one from the mouth of the 
Columbia and the other from Central Oregon, made himself 
perfectly understood in this accommodating jargon, which 
was in use from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific as 
a trading language, and widely along the coast. 

As an example of the amazing difference of language 
among neighboring tribes, note the examples herewith of 
words from the Chehalis who lived on Shoalwater (now Wil- 
lapa) Bay, and the Chinook who occupied the Columbia 
shore from Cape Disappointment to Grays Bay, opposite 
Tongue Point. The Chehalis words are from records of 
Rev. J. H. Frost, who, with Rev. Daniel Lee, established the 
M. E. Clatsop mission near Morrison station in 1840. 


Chinook 

Nika 

Yahka 

Mesika 

Yokso 

Opitsah 

Etshum 

Oqukuckull 

Seahwust 

Etispolettie 

Kuitan 


English 

Chehalis 

I 

Ants 

He 

Tesitnah 

Ye 

Alap 

Hair 

Klihwatens 

Knife 

Chano 

Heart 

Squadlum 

Woman 

Shaiklehl 

Eye 

Tamose 

Arm 

Tashohemitsens 

Horse 

Steken 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


5 


It is almost inconceivable that the numerals of these 
neighboring tribes had no relation whatever to each other, 
differing more widely than French from Siamese. 

Although we are apt to think the Indians possessed a very 
meagre vocabulary, we are much mistaken. Swan says the 
Chehalis had a name for every plant and tree and flower, 
and that the children knew all by name. 

With the coming of the white man, making known to the 
Indian the weapons, the luxuries and the vices of civiliza¬ 
tion, came the need of extending the Chinook to cover new 
conditions. He could not say “carbine” or “fire” so the 
words became “calipeen” and “piah.” The Canadians called 
the hand “le main,” and the Indian came at last to use 
nearly the same sound. Thus English and French words 
were grafted upon the Chinook Jargon. 

Philologists argue interestingly over the Jargon. One 
side maintains there was no such inter-tribal medium of 
communication before the establishment of Astoria; the other 
finds reason to contend that, in a rudimentary form at 
least, it was in use as stated above. Some proofs of this are 
evident in the Jargon itself; some in the records of those 
first describing its use; and Indians who were “skookum 
men” when Lewis and Clark came to Clatsop have left testi¬ 
mony to the same effect. 

The present (fifteenth) edition has been carefully revised. 
A few words printed in earlier editions have been omitted 
because they were either obsolete or of doubtful authenticity. 

The source of all words so far as known is indicated. Many 
words of approved usage in the days of the early traders are 
here reprinted, and some words of peculiar interest from 
the language of the Chinooks, never a part of the Jargon, 
are printed for the sake of preserving them and offering 
examples of the original tongue. Some additions have also 
been made to the conversational examples. 

The bone and sinew of the Jargon is Chinook, and it is 
surprising that Nootka words are so few, though they are 
important; for the fur trade was centered at Nootka Sound 
for many years before the Columbia was discovered, and a 
medium of communication must have existed between traders 
and Indians. 

Jewett, the sailor mentioned in the Preface, who wrote 
a vocabulary of nearly a hundred words, speaks of many 
tribes visiting and trading with the Nootka Indians, and 
among these visiting traders were “Keltsup” people, whom 
I believe to have been Clatsops. Jewett says they came 


6 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


from 300 miles south, which would include the Columbia 
tribes. Another tribe spoken of by Jewett resembles in 
name the Claxtars, who lived along the Clatskanie and 
southward. The words common to Nootka and the Jargon 
very possibly are originally from the speech of tribes living 
at the mouth of the Columbia. 

Jewett was rescued by Capt. Samuel Hill, of the brig 
“Lydia,” of Boston, July 20, 1806. The “Lydia” sailed on 
a trading voyage along the coast north of Nootka for several 
months, and in November, 1806, entered the Columbia. About 
ten miles up the river—probably at Knappton, near the site 
of the Point Ellice village of the Chinooks—the vessel 
traded for furs. Jewett saw medals among these Indians 
which had been given by Lewis and Clark in the Spring of 
1806. 



CHINOOKS, CLATSOPS and COAST TRIBES 
TRAITS, COUNTRY, HABITS, ETC. 


The Indians of the Columbia west of Celilo are described 
as lighter in color than those of the Missouri and Upper 
Columbia; also a little under size of the plains people. They 
were not as active nor so robust as the eastern tribes, nor 
so able to endure hard labor and exposure. The men were 
well made, broad and heavy shouldered from the constant 
use of the paddle. Women rather inclined to corpulence, 
and both sexes bow-legged from sitting in canoes. They were 
rather peaceably disposed, and fairly honest in their dealings 
with each other, but over-tempted by the strange treasures 
of the white men, inclined to steal from them. 

The heads of nearly all the Indians west of the Rocky 
Mountains were flattened in infancy, shaping their skulls 
into a ridge from ear to ear. The dress of the men was 
a single robe of skins, not covering more than half the 
body from neck to knee. Most of the robes thus worn by 
men, and sometimes by women, were made from the skins 
of the big ground squirrel, still over-abundant. Finer skins 
were also worn, the beaver and the priceless sea otter among 
them. Neither men nor women wore leggins nor moccasins. 
The women wore skirts of long fringe twisted or braided 
from the inner bark of the cedar, a beautiful, silky, strong 
fibre, and sometimes a cape of the same, fastened about their 
necks, and sometimes a cape or robe of skins. Both sexes 
wore in rainy weather hats or caps woven of grass and fine 
root-threads. Sometimes the women wore skirts like those 
spoken of above, but made from a fine, silky, tough grass. 

Their houses were made from planks, which they split with 
wedges and axes of stone, horn and hard wood. The houses 
usually contained several families, being separated by parti¬ 
tions of woven mats of rushes, which were also hung along 
the walls and spread on the bank of earth which was left 
along the sides of the house and upon which they sat and 
slept. The central part of the house was lower than the 
sides, and in this the fire was made, cooking and other 
indoor work performed. A hole in the roof let out some 
of the smoke, but they usually had fish hanging from poles 
overhead, so that they made their smoky houses serve in 
curing their food. They sometimes built beds of saplings, 
in bunk fashion, along the sides of their houses. The women 
made great numbers of mats of rushes and grass, which were 
brought out when “company” came, and spread for guests 
to sit or sleep upon. Camas bread, brick-like cakes of pressed 
and dried salal berries, dried huckleberries, fern and flag- 



8 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


roots, and above all wappatos, were stored in their houses, 
and jerked venison in strips, and dried and smoked salmon 
were hung from rafters. Smelt and herring, too, were dried 
6r smoked for Winter food, and an important item of the 
coast tribes’ diet was whale and seal oil, stored in bladders, 
and nearly all kinds of dried berries and roots were eaten 
swimming in this “train oil.” They made wide shelves along 
their house walls from floor to roof, on which were stored 
the furs, mats, camas bread, baskets and household stuff 
generally. Many of their houses were surprisingly large, 
and all remarkable when we reflect that as said above they 
were constructed with the rudest paleolithic tools, and not 
a fragment of metal employed in their construction. 

The Chinooks are probably extinct. In 1891 Doctor Boas 
found only two people, Charles Cultee and Catherine, who 
could speak Chinook (the original language), living then at 
Bay Center, on Shoalwater Bay, among Chehalis Indians. 
From Cultee Dr. Boas learned and wrote a number of the 
original tribal tales or myths of the Indians of the Colum¬ 
bia. 

The Clatsops were Chinooks, and once numerous from 
Tillamook Head (which separated them from the “Killa- 
mux”) to the Columbia. These dwindled to a handful many 
years ago. The last little Clatsop village was near the 
mouth of the Nekanakum (the “Spirit River,” named from 
the mountain N’akarna, which was the resting place of the 
spirit of fire in the Tillamook myth). A half dozen little 
weatherbeaten houses still remain on the peninsula between 
the Wahana and Nekanakum, and in Summer a few Indians 
and mixed-blood descendants of the Clatsops, sometimes 
spend a few weeks there. This spot appears to be the very 
place where Captain Clark was entertained by Kuskelar. 

The Chinooks of the north shore of the Columbia from 
Cape Disappointment to Gray’s Bay, had their principal 
village in the days of the Astor enterprise, on the west side 
of Scarboro Hill, near where the modern village of Chinook 
now is. They had also an “upper village” at Point Ellice 
and another farther up the Chinook River. A small tribe 
of Chinooks, long separated from those of the lower river, 
occupied the north shore of the Columbia from a point oppo¬ 
site The Dalles to the mouth of Klickitat River. Their lan¬ 
guage bore evidences of a considerable change from the 
parent tongue. 

According to one author the Chinooks were very numer¬ 
ous and powerful at one time, occupying both shores of the 
Columbia from its mouth as far up as Vancouver. The 
Multnomahs were of the Chinook family. The Tillamooks 
reported that eighteen tribes lived beyond them to the south¬ 
east, all speaking the Tillamook tongue. Farther away in the 
same direction, they said were six tribes of a different na¬ 
tion. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


9 


MULTNOMAS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR COUNTRY, 
HABITS, ETC. 

Lewis and Clark speak of tribes along the river from 
the Willamette to the sea, whose habits, appearance, dress 
and language were like those of the Chinooks and Clatsops. 
The latter were a tribe of the Chinooks. The Claxtars, of 
the Clatskanie Valley, the Cowlitz and the Klickitats (who 
are probably the people spoken of by Lewis and Clark as 
Chilluckittequaws) were intruders in the lower river country. 
Doctor Coues says the Claxtars were a “vagrant Athapascan 
tribe,” and were therefore a vast distance from their home 
people. 

A little below the mouth of the Wallamet, on the northeast 
shore of Sauvies (Wapato) Island, was a large village of the 
Multnomah tribe. A little above this village on the Wal¬ 
lamet, on the island also, was a Klickitat town. These Klick¬ 
itats had driven the Multnomahs from that part of the island 
in a battle. The Multnomas occupied the southern and 
western parts of this large island, and also the Scappoose 
plain and lowlands, and old Charley Mackay, who knew the 
lower river and its people from 1800 onward, told me the 
Multnomas had a large town on the Scappoose Bay near War¬ 
ren and another near Woodland on the lowlands of Lewis 
River. The Multnomas were of the Chinook stock. 

Mr. Fred H. Saylor, who has made a very extensive col¬ 
lection of Indian myths and lore, advances the theory that 
the beautiful name of this tribe (which ought to be written 
Multnoma) signifies “roses on the water.” I find no indi¬ 
cation of this in the original dialects, but this interpretation 
is certainly descriptive of the country inhabited by the tribe— 
prolific in wild roses, which at the time of their blooming 
were usually surrounded by the widespread Summer floods 
of the Columbia. 

The Multnomas were specially fortunate in their surround¬ 
ings, occupying the lowlands of the Willamette, the greater 
part of fertile Sauvies Island, the lovely slopes and prairies 
of the Scappoose country, with the broad bays and inlets 
reaching inland from the Columbia and their own river, the 
Multnoma, which was the name of the western branch of 
the Wallamet and also of the main river from its mouth to 
the falls, twenty-five miles. 

They had no horses, but plenty of canoes. Horses were 
scarcely used anywhere on the Columbia shores from The 
Dalles west. In the lakes of Sauvies Island grew wappa- 
toes, the best food of the Western tribes. This plant looks 
like the calla lily, and grows in rich, muddy soil, usually 
under two feet of water or even more. The squaws gath¬ 
ered the roots, which are similar to potatoes, by wading 
out into the lakes, pushing a small canoe, or paddling out 
in it and going overboard when they reached the wappato 


10 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


patch. They worked the roots loose from the mud with 
their toes, and then they rose to the surface, and were 
thrown into the canoe when the woman was ready to go 
back to her home. Great flocks of waterfowl fed in these 
lakes, the wappato being also their favorite food. The great 
white swan was the wappato digger, long-necked and power¬ 
ful, and when he raised his head to look for the roots he 
had sent up, the ducks had often devoured them. This 
root would be a valuable food for whites as well as Indians, 
and it seems a pity it is not used among our people. 

The kitchen utensils of the tribes were few and simple— 
bowls and trenchers hollowed neatly from wood, cups of 
horn, horn spoons, and baskets woven so skillfuly as to be 
water-tight took the place of jugs and buckets. 

The weapons of hunters and warriors were the flint-tipped 
lance, bow and arrows, and a mace. The fisherman used a 
pronged spear, or a long lance with a detachable point of 
horn such as may still be seen in use among Indians spear¬ 
ing salmon on the Columbia. They wove nets of all kinds, 
for taking anything from smelt to salmon, from strong 
fibrous roots, and caught large seafish with curious hooks 
of bone or ivory. Trout, squawfish and sculpin were 
caught in great numbers by baits tied to the end of a line, 
and when a fisherman felt a bite he snatched the fish so 
quickly that he had it in the canoe before it could let go. 
The clams of the seashore were a great and constant supply 
of food, and their shells were used as spoons or saucers for 
broth. 


EXTERMINATION OF THE TRIBES. 

When the first McCormick Dictionary was published there 
were nearly a hundred Chinooks living from Ilwaco to 
Scarboro Head. Half as many Clatsops lived on the 
“plains.” There were several hundred Chinooks at the same 
old Chinook shore in Lewis and Clark’s time, and thousands 
of Indians on and near the Columbia from its mouth to The 
Dalles. These all said that their numbers were ten-fold 
greater in the previous century, but that disease had swept 
the tribes away. Thousands died of smallpox and measles, 
contracted from sailors and traders from 1792 to the time of 
Lewis and Clark. There was a great and mysterious mor¬ 
tality among the Indians of the Wallamet in 1836-8, as re¬ 
corded by the missionaries of Jason Lee’s party. Similar 
fearful mortality among the Cayuses and Umatillas aroused 
the fears and superstitions of those tribes against Marcus 
Whitman, and doubtless caused the massacre. 


ENGLISH - CHINOOK 


A 


Above. Sih -ha-lee. 

Abdomen. Ya-kwah'-tin. 

Abscond. Kap'-swal-la 
klat'-a-wa. 

Absolve. Mam'-ook stoh. 

Acorn, acorns. Kah'-na- 
wee. 

Across. In'-a-ti. 

Afraid. Kwass. 

After, afterward. Kim'- 
tah. 

Afternoon. Kim'-tah sit- 
kum sun. 

Again. Weght. 

Ague. Cole sick. 

Ah! (admiration). Wah! 

Ah! (in pain). A-nah' 

Aid. Elann. 

Aid, to. Mam'-ook elann. 

Alder. Is-sick stick. La¬ 
terally “paddlewood.” 

Alike. Kah'-kwa. 

All. Kon'-a-way. 

Almighty (the). Sah'-ha- 
lee Ty-ee. 

Almost. Wake si-ah'. 

Alms. E-lann, or e-la-han. 
To give alms, Mamook 
kla-how-yum. 

Alone. Ko-pet'ikt. 


Always. Kwon'-e-sum. 
Although. Kegh'-che. 
Amass. Is'-kum. 

American. Boston. 
American money. Boston 
chickamin. 

Amusement. Hee' hee. 

And. Pee. (Fr. puis.) 
Angel. Ta-mah'-na-wus. 
Angry. Sol'-lex. 

Any. Klaxta. 

Anybody. Klaxta man. 
Apple. Le pome or pome. 
Apron. Kis'-su. 

Arbutus (madrono). L'ahb. 
Arithmetic. Tzum. To 
figure, mamook tzum. 
Arise. Mit-wit. 

Arm. Le-mah'. (O. C. 
Etispol-ettic. Chehalis, 
tens-ho'-mish). 

Arrest. Mam'-ook haul. 
Arrive. K 5 . 

Arrow, arrows. Kli'-e-ton. 
As if. KSh'-kwa spose. 
Ascend. Klat'-a-wa sah'- 
ha-le. 

Ash (tree). Issick stick. 

Same as alder. 

Ask. Wa-wa. 



12 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Assistance, aid. E-lann'. Awl. Keep'-woot. Shoe- 
At. Ko'-pa. maker’s awl, shoe keep- 

Aunt. Kwal'h. woot. 

Autumn. Ten'-as cole ill'- Axe. La hash'. (O. C. 
a-hee. Kitstan). 


Bad. Kiil-tus; me-sah'- 
che; pe-shak'. 

Back. E-meek. 

Bag. Le-sac. 

Ball. Le-bal. 

Bargain. Mar-kook. 

Bark of a tree. Stick skin. 
Bark (dog’s), Kowmux 
wawa. 

Barley. La-shey'. 

Barrel. Ta-mo-lich. 

Barter. Hoo-ee hoo-ee; 
markook. 

Basin. Ket'-ling. 

Basket. Ope'-kwan. 

Bat. Po-lak'-lee kulla kulla. 
Beach. Pd'-lal-lee ill-a-hee. 
Beads. Ka-mo'-suk. 

Bear (black). Chet-woot; 

its-woot; (grizzly) si-am'. 
Beard. Kla-poot'-chus. 
Beat, to. Kok'-shut. 
Beaver. Ee'-na. 

Because. Keh' wa. 

Become. Chah'-co. 

Bed. Bed. 

Before. E'-lep. 

Begin. Mam'-ook alta. 
Begone. Klat -a-wa. 
Behave. Mam'ook kloshe. 
Behind. Kim'-ta. 

Bell. Tin'-tin. 

Belly. Yah-kwah'-tin. 


B 

Below. Ke-kwil'-lee. 

Belt. La san-jel'. 

Berries. O'-Hl-lee. 

Best. E'-lip kloshe. 
Between. Pat-suk. 

Beyond. Yah'wa. 

Big. Hy-as'. 

Bird. Kul'-lakul'-la. 
Biscuit. Le Bis-kwee. 

Bit or dime. Bit. 

Bitter. Klile. 

Black. Klale. 

Blackberries. Klik-a-muks. 
Blackbird. Pil'-kwa-tun 
(the red shouldered). 
Bladder. Ten-sah'-wit 
(Che.) 

Blanket. Pa-see-see. 

Blind. Ha'-lo see-ow'-ist. 
Blood. Pil-pil. Ten-squails 
(Che.). 

Blow. P 5 h. Blow out the 
light. Mamook poh. 
Blue. Spo-ah. 

Blunder (to). Tsee-pee. 
Boar. Man Ko-sho'. 

Board. La-plash'. 

Boat. Boat, Kanim. 

Bobtail. Sis'-ki-you. 

Boil, to. Lip-lip. 

Bold. Wake kwass. 

Bone. Stone. Taerk (Che.). 
Book. Book. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


13 


Boots. Stick shoes. 

Bore, to. Mam'-ook kla- 
whop. 

Borrow. A-yah'-whul. 
Bosom. To-toosh'. 

Boss. Ty-ee. 

Boston. American. 

Both. Kon'-a-mox. 

Bottle. L&-bd-tai'. 

Bow. O-pit'-keh. 

Bow of a boat. Nose. 
Bowels. Ki-yah, or Ya- 
kwih'-tin. 

Bowl. Oos'-kan. 

Box. Li Cas-sett'. 

Box, to fight, a blow. Puk- 
puk. 

Boy. Ten'-as man (O. C. 
kas-kass'). 

Bracelet. Klik'-wal-Iee. 
Branch. Tsi-d-lits. 

Brass. Pil chick-a-min. 
Brave. Skoo'-kum-tum-tum. 
Bread. Piah sap-6-lil. Le 
pan'. 

Break. Kok'-shut. 

Breast, the breasts. To- 
toosh'. 

Breast, the chest. Emih'. 
Breech. O-poots. 


Breechclout. O-poots sill. 
Bridle. Li bleed'. 

Bright. Twah. 

Bring. Mam'-ook chih'-ko. 
British. King George (kin- 
chautsh'). 

Broad. Kluk-ull'. 

Broken. Kok'-shut. 

Brook. Ten'-as chuck. 
Broom. Bloom. 

Brother. KSh'-po, if older; 
ow, if younger than the 
person speaking. 
Brother-in-law. Ek'-keh. 
Buck. Man mow'-Ich. 
Bucket. Ta-mo'-litch. 
Buffalo Moos'-moos. 

Bullet. Le-bal, or kli-e-tan. 
Bundle. Kow. 

Burn. Mam'-ook piah. 

But. Pee. 

Bushel (bushel basket). Ta- 
mo'-lich. 

Butter. To-toosh gleese. 
Buttons. Chil'chil. 

Buy. Mar-kook. 

By. Ko'-pa. 

By-and-by. Win'-a-pee, al'- 
kee. 


C 


Calf. Ten'-as moos'-moos. 
Call (to). Wa'-wa. 

Calm. Ha'-lo wind. 
Cam'as. Camas, kammass 
Can. Oos'-kan. 

Candle. La-shan-del', or 
gleese pi-Sh. 


Canoe. Ca-nim' (O. C. 

chippots). 

Cap. Se-ih'-po. (O. C. 

o-hea'-pul). 

Capsize. Keel'-a-py. 

Car (R. R.). Pi'ah chick'- 
chick. 


14 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Carbine. Cal-i-peen'. 
Carrion. Hurara itl'-wil-lee, 
Pu-pu. 

Carrot. La ca-lat'. 

Carry, to. Lo-lo. 

Cart. Chick'-chick. 

Cascade. Tum'-water. 
Cask. Ta-mo'-litch. 

Cat. Puss-puss. (Sometimes 
pish-pish.) 

Catch. Is'-kum. 

Cattle. Moos'-moos. 

Cedar. Can-im stick. 
Cellar. Ket'-wil-la. 
Cemetery. Mem'-a-loose ill'- 
a-hee. 

Center. Kat'-suk. 

Certainly. Na-wit'-ka. 
Chain. Chick-a-min lope. 

(Necklace, 1 ashen.) 

Chair. La shase. 

Change. Hoo'-ee-hoo'-ee. 
Channel. Oo-e'-hut. 

Cheat (to). La-lah'. 

Chin. Mac'-ke-son. 

Cheek. Checko; Cap'-a-la. 
Cheese. Kull to-toosh'. 
Chicken. Li-pool'. 

Chief. Ty-ee'. 

Child. Ten'-as man; ten- 
as. 

Chilly. Ten-as cole. 

Chop (to). Tl'kope. 

Cider. Chuck la-pome'. 
Chimney. Li shem'-i-nay. 
Christmas day. Hy-as' Sun¬ 
day. 

Circle. Kwe'-u-kwe'-u. 
City. Skoo'-kum town. 


Clams. Razor clams, O'na. 
little neck, Luck-ut-chee; 
quahang or large round 
clam of Puget Sound is 
called “Smetock” on the 
northern coasts, and the 
largest of all “go-duck.” 

Clay. Klim-min' ill'-a-hee. 

Clear. Klah. To clear, 
become, fine weather, 
Chah'-co klah. 

Clock. Hy-as' tick'-tick. 

Cloth (cotton or linen). Sail 
or sill; (woolen) pasee- 
see. 

Clouds. Smoke. 

Coat. Ca-po'; Kat'-suk. (O. 
C., kapawillote). 

Coffee. Kau'-pee. 

Cold. Chis; cole O. C. pa- 
mas'; Tsish. 

Color, colored. Tzum. 

Comb (to). Mam-ook comb. 

Come. Chih'-co (O. C. 
essa). 

Command. Wa'-wa; marsh 
tum'-tum. 

Conceal. Ip'-soot. 

Confess (to). Yi'-em. 

Conjure,conjurer. Ta-mih'- 
na-wus. 

Conquer (to).To'-lo. 

Conscience. Tum'-tum. 

Cook (to). Mam'-ook pi- 
ah. 

Cool (to). Mam'-ook cole. 

Copper. Pil chick'-a-min. 

Cord. Ten'-as-lope. 

Corn, maize. E'-salt'h. 

Corral. Kul-Ugh'. 

Cougar. Hy'-as puss-puss. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


15 


Cough (to cough). Hoh- 
hoh. 

Council. Mam'-ook tum- 
tum. 

Count. Mam'-ook kon'-see; 
kwun'-num. 

Country. Ill'-a-hee. 

Co-yo'-te. Tol'-a-pus (tah'- 
lapus). 

Cousin. Kah'-po; ow. (See 
brother; same words 

used.) 

Coward, or cowardly. 
Kwass. 

Crab. Kaer-hutch (Che.). 

Crabapple (the native 

thomapple). Pow'-ich. 


Crack (a fissure). Tsugh. 
Cranberry. Sd'-le mee. 
Crane. Ke'-lok. 

Crazy. Pel'-ton or pilton. 
Cream, cream-colored. Le 
clem. 

Crockery. Ma-lah'. 
Crooked. Ky'-wa; klook. 
Cross (the). La cld'-ah. 
Crow (the). Kah-kah'. 

Cry. Cly (O. C. Oke). 
Cup. Oos'-kan. 

Cure (to). Mam'-ook 
kldshe. 

Curly. HunT-kih. 

Cut (to). Tl'kope. 


D 


Dagger. O-pit'-sah. 

Dance. Tanse (O. C. Law'- 
suk). 

Dark. Po-lak'-ly. 

Daughter. O-kus'-tee. 

Day. Sun. 

Daybreak. Sun chah'-c 5 . 

Dead. Mem'-a-loose; at- 
im-in' (O. C.). 

Dear (beloved). Tal'-is. 

Dear (high-priced). Hy- 
as' mar'-kook. 

Decrease. Chah'-ko ten'as. 

Deep. Hy'-as kee-quil-ly. 

Deer. Mow'-ich. 

Deity. Sah'-ha-le ty-ee'. 

Delirious. Hul-oi'-me la- 
tate'. 

Delude. Mam'-ook tsee'- 
pee. 

Deluge. Hy'-as chuck. 


Demand. Skoo'-kum wa- 
wa. 

Demon. Me-sah-chee ta- 
mah'-na-wus. 

Descend. Marsh kee^quil- 
Iy * 

Desert (to). Kap-swal-la 
klat'-a-wa. 

Desire. Tik'-eh. 

Destroy. Mam'-ook ha'-lo. 

Devil. De-aub'. 

Die (to). Chah'-co mem'- 
a-loose. 

Diet. Muck'-a-muck. 

Dig. Mam'-ook ill'-a-hee. 

Difficult. Kull. 

Dime. Ikt bit. 

Directly. Tshi'-keh. 

Displeasure (expression of). 
A-nah'. 


16 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Dive. S 5 -pe'-na ko'-pa 
chuck. 

Do (to). Mam'-ook. 

Doctor. Keel'-al-ly; doc- 
tin. 

Doe. Klooch'-man mow - 
ich. 

Dog. Kom'-ooks or Kom'- 
ox. 

Dollar. Dolla. 

Dooi. La pote'. 

Down (fallen). Whim. 


Each. Ko'-pet ikt. 

Eager. Hy'-at tik'-eh. 

Eagle (white-head). Chak- 
chak (O. C. Yak-a-la). 

Ear. Kwo-lon'. 

Early. Ten'-as sun. 

Earn. To'-ld. 

Earliest. Skoo'-kum mam'- 
ook. 

Earth. Ill'-a-hee. 

East. Sun chih'-co. 

Eat. Muck'-a-muck. 

Ebb tide. Chuck klat'-a-wa. 

Eel (lamprey). Skwak- 
wal. 

Effeminate. Kih'-kwa 
klooch'-min. 

Egg. Le sep'. Eggs, same. 

Eight. Stdte'-kin. 

Eighth. Sit-kum kwah-tah, 
or stotekin. 

Elbow. Kim'ta le-mah'. 

Elevate (to). Mam'-ook 
s&h'-ha-lee. 

Elk. Moo'-lok. 


Downstream. Mai'-mee. 
kul'-lex. 

Drawers. Kee'-quil-ly sa- 
Drink (to). Muck'-a-much 
chuck (O. C. Tla-umsh). 
Drive (to). Kish-kish. 
Drunk. Pahtl-lum. 

Dry. Dly. 

Duck. Kweh-kweh; haht- 
haht. 

Dumb. Wake wa-wa. 
Dust. Po'lal-ly. 


Elope. Kap'-swal-la ko-pa 
klooch-man. 

Embark. Klat'-a-wa ko-pa 
chuck. 

Embrace. Ba-bay'. 

Emigrate. Klat'-a-wa ko'- 
pa hul-oi'-me ill-a-hee. 

Enclosure. Kul-lih'. 

End. O'-poots. 

Enemy. Me-sah'-chee til-a- 
kum. 

English, Englishman. King 
George. 

Enough. Hi-yu, or kd-pet\ 

Entrails. Ki'-yah. 

Enumerate. Mam'-ook 
tzum. 

Equal. Kon'-a-mox. 

Erect. Mit'-wit; delate'. 

Escape. Kloshe klat'-a-wa. 

Eternal. Kwon'-e-sum. 

Evening. Ten'-as po-lak'ly. 

Every. Kon'-a-way. 

Everywhere. Kon'-a-way 
kah'. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


17 


Ewe. Klooch'-man le-moo'- Explain. Pot'-latch kum'- 
to. tux. 

Examine. Nan'-ich kum'- Exterminate. Kon'-a-way 
tux. ha'-ld. 

Except. Marsh, or pee. Extinguish. Mam'-ook'. 
Exchange. Hoo'-ee-hoo'-ee. mem'-a-loose. 

Exert. Hi'-yu mam'-ook. Extraordinary. Hy'-as hul- 
Expel. Mam'-ooh marsh. oi-me. 

Expire. Chah'-co mem'-a- Eye, eyes. Se-ah'-wust. 
loose. 

F 


Face. Se-ah'-wust. 

Fact. Wake kla-min'-a-wit. 

Fade. Chah'-co spo'-ah. 

Faded. Spo'-ah. 

Fall. Klat'-a-wa whim. 

Fallen. Whim. 

Fallow. Kull ill'-a-hee. 

False. See'-pee, tsee'-pee. 

Falsehood. Kla-min'-a-wit. 

Family (my). Ni'-ka til'- 
a-kum. 

Famine. Ha'-lo muck'-a- 
muck. 

Far. Si-ah' (O. C., Tah- 
oo'). 

Fast (rapid, quickly). Hy- 
ak'. 

Fast (tight, secure). Kwult. 

Fasten (to). Kow. 

Fat. Gleese. 

Father. Papa (O. C. Tili- 
cumama). 

Fathom. It'-lan; eth-lon. 

Fear, fearful. Kwass. 

Feast. Hi'-yu much'-a- 
muck. 


Feathers. Tipso. Feathers 
of the wings, quills, Te- 
peh'. 

Feet, foot. Le pee-a'. O. 
C. Che-kok). 

Fell (as a tree). Mam'-ook 
whim. 

Female. Klooch'-man. 

Fence. Kul-lah'. 

Fetch. Mam'-ook chah'-co. 

Fever. Waum sick. 

Few. Ten'-as hi-yu'. 

Field. Kloshe ill'-a-hee. 

Fight (to). Ka-dee'-na; 
pite. Fight (with fists), 
Mam-ook puk-puk'. 

Figured (like calico, wall 
paper, etc.). Tzum. 

File. La lim'. 

Fill (to). Mam'-ook paht'l. 

Fin. Pish le-mah'. 

Find (to). Klap. 

Fine (soft). Klim-min'. 

Fine (beautiful). Kloshe; 
toke'-tee. 

Finish, finished. Ko-pet'. 

Finger. Le-doo' (O. C., Tel- 
lux-ash). 


18 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Fire. Pi'-ah; O-la-pit'- 
skee (Chehalis, Met'- 
chip). 

First E'-lip. 

Fish. Pish. 

Fishhook. Ik'-kik, or a'kik. 

Five. Kwin'-num. 

Flag. Hy'-as Sunday sail. 

Flea. So'-pen Ee'-na-poo; 

Cho'-tub. 

Flee. Klat'-a-wa. 

Flesh. Itl'-wil-lee. 

Flies, fly. Le moosh'. 

Flimsy, cheap, inferior. Pe- 
what'-ty. 

Flint. Kil-it'-sut. 

Float. Marsh ko'-pa chuck. 

Flock. Hi-yu' moos-moos. 

Flood. Paht'l chuck'. 

Flour. Sap'-d-lil. 

Flower, flowers. Kloshe 
tip-'so. 

Fly (to). Ka-wak'. 

Fog. Smoke. 

Fold, sheepfold. Le-moo'- 
to-house. 

Folks. Til'-a-kum. 

Folly. Pel'-ton mam'-ook. 

Flounder (fish). O. C., 
T'peeshkuks. 

Food. Muck'-a-muck. 

Fool, foolish. Pel'-ton, or 
Pil'-ton. 

Foot Le pee-a' (Chehalis, 
Ta-lass'). 

Forage, grass land. Tip'so 
ill'-a-hee. 

Forever. Kwon'-e-sum. 

For what, wherefore? Pe 
kah'-ta? 


Ford. -Chuck ooe'-hut; 
way'-kut 

Foreigner. Hul-oi'-me til'- 
a-kum. 

Forget (stop knowing). K 5 - 
pet' kum-tux; mah'-lee. 

Fork. La pooshett Table 
fork, Opitsah six. 

Forks (of a river or road). 
La boos mox. 

Former. Ahn'-cut-ty. 

Forenoon. E-lip sit'-kum 
sun. 

Fortnight. Mox Sunday. 

Found. Klap. 

Foui. Lock'-it 

Fowl. La pool'. 

Fox. Tish-ko-ko (O. C.). 

Frail. Wake skoo'-kum. 

Free. Wake e-li'-tee. 

Freezing. Hy'-as cole. 

Freight. Kwass. 

Frenchman. Pah'-se-ooks. 

Friend. Six; til'-a-kum. 

Fringe. Tip'-so. 

Frolic. Mam'-ook hee'-hee. 

Frog. Shwah'-kuk. 

Frown. Kah'-kwa sol-lex. 

Fry (to). Mam'-ook la po- 
ell'. 

Fryingpan. La po-ell'. 

Full. Paht'l. 

Fundament O'-poots, or 5- 
pootsh'. 

Funeral. Lo-lo mem'-a- 
loose til'-a-kum ko'-pa 
ill'-a-hee. 

Fur. Tip-s 5 . Beaverskin, 
Ee'-na tip-sd. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 
G 


19 


Gain. Td' 15. 

Gale. Skoo'-kum wind. 
Gall. Kli-kli. 

Gallop (to). Kwal-lal 
kwal-lal'. 

Gamble (a game). It'-lo- 

kum. 

Garden. Kloshe ill'-a-hee. 
Gather. Ho'-ku-irel. 

Get (to). Is'-kum. 

Get out. Marsh, or Klat'- 
a-wa. 

Get up (arise). Mit'-wit 
(O. C. Etchalat'sa). 
Ghost Ta-mah'-na-wus; 
also the dead were spok¬ 
en of as “Mimaloose til- 
akum.” 

Gift. Pot'-latch. 

Girl. Lik'-p'ho (old Chi¬ 
nook). Ten'-as klooch- 

man. 

Give (to). Pot'-latch (O. 
C., Shail; Chehalis, 
Quitz). 

Glad. Kwan. 

Gladness. Ual'-te. 

Glass. She-lock'-um. 

Gnats (no-see’em). Da'-go. 
Gnaw. Muck-a-muck kah'- 
kwa ee'-na. 

Go. Klat'-a-wa. (O. C., 
Wauk'-see). 

Goad. Moos'-moos stick. 
Goblin. Se-at'-co. 

God. Sah'-ha-lee Ty-ee'. 
Kan'-num is the old Chi¬ 
nook word. 

Gold. Pil chick'-a-min. 


Good. Kloshe (O. C., Tlak, 
which also signifies to 
love). Good Spirit, E- 
kone'. 

Good-bye. Kla-how'-ya. 

Goods. Ik'-tahs. 

Goose. Kal'-a-kal-Sh'ma. 

Gospel. Kloshe kum'-tux. 

Grain. Sap'-d-lil. 

Grandfather. Chope. 

Grandmother. Chitch. 

Grave. Mem'-a-loose ill'- 
a-hee. 

Grass. Tip'-so (O. C., Klet- 
step). Kletstep suggests 
to me a probable origin 
of the name Clatsop. 
Jewett mentions a tribe 
from three hundred miles 
south of Nootha whom he 
calls Keltsup. Since Cap¬ 
tain Clark probably cor¬ 
rupted ik-hol, a river (the 
mouth of Elk Creek, 
where he saw the whale 
on the beach) into Ecola, 
it is not wide of the mark 
to suppose that he wrote 
Clatsop for Kletstep. The 
dwellers on those verdant 
plains at the mouth of 
the Columbia may have 
been known as the “peo¬ 
ple of the grassy land” or 
Kletstep. 

Grasshopper. Klah'-e-tlak. 

Great. Hy-as'. (O. C., 

Tahl). 

Gray. Legley; gley. 


20 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Grease. Gleese. 

Greedy. Tik'-eh kon'-a- 
way. 

Green. Pe-chuk. 

Grief. Cly tum'-tum. 
Grizzly bear. Si-am'. 

Grog. Lum-pe-chuck'. 
Grouse. Si'-wash la-poor. 
Grow. Chah-co hy-as\ 
Grumble. Sol'-lex wa'-wa. 


Grunt. Wa'-wa kah'-kwa 
ko'-sho. 

Guard. Kloshe nan'-ich. 

Guard-house. Skoo'-kum 
house. 

Guilt, guilty. Me-sah'-che. 

Gum, pitch, resin. La 
goom. 

Gun. Suk-wal-lal; musket. 

Gunpowder. Po'-lal-ly. 


H 


Habitation. Kwon'-e-sum 
mit'-lite. 

Hail. Cole snass. E-kap'- 
pa (Che.). 

Hair. Yak'-so. 

Half. Sit'-kum. 

Halibut. Pows. 

Hallo. Nah. 

Halt. Ko-pet' klat'-a-wa. 

Hammer. Le mah-to'. 

Handcuff. Chick'-a-min 
mam'-ook kow le-mah'. 

Hand. Le-mah'. 

Hand (game of). It'-lo- 
cum. 

Handkerchief. Hak'-a-chum. 

Handsome. Toke'-tee. 

Hard. Kull. 

Hare. Kwit'-sha-dee. 

Harrow (to). Mam'-ook 
comb ill'-a-hee. 

Harangue. Skoo'-kum wa'- 
wa. 

Harvest. Is'-kum sap'-o-lil. 

Hat. Se-ah'-po. 

Hatch. Ten'-as le-pool chee 
chah'-co. 

Haul. Haul. 


Hawk. Shak-shak'. 

Hay. Dly tip'-so. 

Hazel, hazelnut. Tuk'-wil- 

la. 

He or his. Yah-ka (O. C., 
Oeach). 

Head. Latate' (O. C., 

Thlam-ek-took). 

Heal. Chah-co kloshe. 

Healthy. Skoo'-kum. 

Heap. Hi-yu' mit'-lite. 

Hear. Kum'-tux. 

Hearsay, rumor. Is'-kum 
yah'-ka wa'-wa. 

Heart. Tum'-tum (O. C., 
Et-shum). 

Heat (to make hot). Chah'- 
co waum. 

Heaven. Sah'-ha-lee Ty-ee' 
ill'-a-hee. 

Heavy. Till. 

Help. Mam'-ook e-lan'. 

Hen. La-pool'. 

Herb. Tip'-so. 

Here. Yah'-kwa. Here! 
Come here! Ne-wha. 

Hermaphrodite. Bur-dash. 

Herring. Ool'-chus. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


21 


Hew (to; to cut or chop). 
Tl'kope. 

Hide (to). Ip'-soot. 

Hide or pelt. Skin. 

High. Sah'-ha-lee. 

Hilarity. Hi-yu' hee'-hee. 
Hill. Sma-nash'. 

Him. Yah'-ka. 

His. Yah-ka. 

Hit (to). Kwult. 

Hitch. Mam'-ook kow. 

Hoe. La pe-osh. 

Hog. Ko'-sho. 

Hold. Wake marsh. 

Hole. Kla-whap'. 

Holiday. Sunday. 

Home. Ni'ka house. 

Honest. Wake kap'-swal-la. 
Hoof. Ku'-i-tan le-pee-a'. 
Hook. Hook. Fishhook, ik'- 
kik. 


Horn. Stone. 

Horse. Ku'-i-tan. 

Horseshoes. Chick'-a-min 
shoes. 

Hot. Hy-as' waum. 

Hour (time of day). Tin- 
tin, adding the number, as 
Klone tin-tin, three o’clock, 
etc. 

House. House (O. C.,Tolth). 

How. Kah'-ta. How many? 
Kon'-see. 

How are you?Kla-how'-ya? 

How large? Kon'-see hy- 
as'? 

Huckleberries. Shot o'-lil-lee. 

Hundred. Tuk'-a-md'-nuk. 

Hungry. O'-lo. 

Hurry. Hy-ak'; howh. 

Husband. Til-shel. 

Hut. Ten'-as house. 


I 


I or me. Ni-ka (O. C., 
Untz) % 

Ice. She'-li-po. This word 
is not in common use, but 
deserves to be rather than 
“Cole chuck,” which is 
the usual definition of the 
dictionaries. Dr. Tolmie 
gives it as a Chinook 
word. The present ed¬ 
itor is pleased to discover 
that the word merits a 
place in the vocabulary 
because it is still in fre¬ 
quent use, being the name 
of a large lake on the 
Washington shore near 


the mouth of the Willam¬ 
ette. This lake is named 
Shilapoo on the maps. 
Doubtless it got its name 
of “icy water” because it 
was frozen often when the 
rivers were still open. 
(Chehalis, Shoo-ee'). 

Idle. Kul'-tus mit'-lite'. 

If. Spose. 

Imbecile. Wake skoo'-kum 
la tate'. 

Imitate. Mam'-ook kah'- 
kwa. 

Immense. Hy-as'. 

Impostor. Kul'-tus til'-akum. 


22 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Imprison. Mit'-lite kdpa Ink. Klale chuck mam'-ook 
skoo'-kum house. 

In. Ko'-pa. 


Inability (expression of). 
How'-kwutl, or hau'-katl. 

Increase. Chah'-co hi-yu'. 

Indeed. Na-wit'-ka; whah. 

Indian. Si'-wash. 

Indomitable. Skoo'-kum 
tum'-tum. 

Industrious. Kwon'-e-sum 
mam'-ook. 

Infant. Chee ten'-as. 

Infirm. Sick; wake skoo-' 
kum. 

Inform. Pot'-latch kum'- 
tux. 

Inhale. Is'-kum wind. 


tzum. 

Innocent. Wake me-sah'- 
chee. 

Inquire. Tik'-eh kum'-tux. 

Inshore. Maht'-wil-lee. 

Insult. Sol'-lex wa'-wa. 

Interpret. Mam'-ook kum'- 
tux hul-oi'-me wa'-wa. 

Intoxicate. Chah'-co dliink. 

Invite. Wa'-wa chah'-co 

ko'-pa. 

Iron (or steel). Chick'-a- 
min. 

Island. Ten'-as ill'-a-hee 

(O. C., Now'-ich). 

It O'-koke ; ik'-tah; yah'- 
ka (O. C., Ekek). 


J 


Jabber. Kul'-tus wa'-wa. 
Jacket. Yutes'-kut Ca-p5.' 
Jail. Skoo'-kum house. 

Jay. Teh'-a-ner (Che.). 
Jealous. Sick tum'-tum. 
Jehovah. Sah'-ha-lee Ty-ee'. 
Jerk. Hy-ak' haul. 

Jesus. Sah'-ha-lee Ty-ee 
ten'-as man (son of God). 
Job. Ten'-as mam'-ook. 
Joke (to). Mamook hee'-hee. 


Jolly. Hee'-hee tum'-tum. 

Joy. U-al'-tee. 

Jug. Stone la bo-tai'. 

Juice. 'Chuck; Chuck la 
pome; Chuck o'-lil-lee, 
etc. 

Jump (to). So'-pe-na. 

Just. Kwon'-e-sum de-late' 
kloshe. Just a little, De¬ 
late' ten'-as. 


K 

Kam'ass or Cammas root. Kin. Til'-a-kum. 

Kam'-ass, la Cam'-ass. Kick (to). Chuck'-kin. 
Kettle. Ket'-ling. Kill. Mam'-ook mem'-a- 

Keep. Wake pot'-latch. loose (O. C., Ha-an'). 

Kennel. Kom'-ooks house. Kiss (to). Be-bay'. 

Key. La kleh'. Kitten. Ten'-as puss'-puss. 


23 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 

Kind , (friendly). Kloshe Knife. O-pit'-sah. 

tum'-tum. Knock (to). Ko'-ko. 

Knave. Me-sah'-chee til'-a- Knotty. HunT-keh. 

kum. Know (to). Kum-tux. 

Knead. Mam'-ook le pan. Knowledge. Kum-tux. 
Knee. (Che.) Tah'-ness. 


L 


Labor. Mam -ook. 

Lad. Ten'-as man. 

Lack. Wake hi-yu. 

Lake. Tsa'-lil (O. C., Sma- 
nash'). 

Lamb. Ten'-as le moo-to'. 

Lament. Cly tum'-tum. 

Lame. Klook te-ah'-wit. 

Lamp. 

Lamprey eel. Skwak'-wal. 

Land. Ill'-a-hee (O. C., 
Timsh). 

Land otter. Ne-nem'-ooks. 

Language. Wa'-wa. 

Lane. De-late' oo'-e-hut. 

Large. Hy-as' (O. C., Aya- 
quantl). 

Larceny. Kap'-swal-la. 

Lard. Ko'-sho gleese. 

Lark, sparrow, wren, or any 
small bird. Ten'-as kul'- 
la-kul'-la. 

Last, hindermost. Kim'-ta. 

Late. Kim'-ta chah'-co. 

Lately. Chee; wake ahn'- 
kut-ty. 

Laugh. Hee'-hee (Heltsh in 
the old Chinook). 

Lamp. La lamp. 

Lawn. Kloshe tip'-so ill'-a- 
hee. 


Lazy. Klah -wa. 

Lead to; to take with one. 
Lo-lo. 

Lead (metal). Shot. 

Leaf, leaves. Tip'-so. 

Lean, meagre. Ha'-ldgleese. 
Lean (to). Lagh. 

Learn. Chah'-co kum-tux. 
Leap. So'-pe-na. 

Least. Ten'-as. 

Leather. Moos-moos skin. 

Elk or buckskin, Cle-mel'. 
Leave off, cease. Ko-pet\ 
Leg. Te-ah'-wit (O. C., 
Eet-son). 

Leggings. Mit-tass'. 

Length. Yoot'l'-kut. 

Lend (to). A-yah'-whul. 
Lick (to). Klak'-wun. 

Lie (falsehood). Kla-min'- 
a-wit (O. C., Ka-hup). 
Lie (to repose). Moo'-sum. 
Lift (to raise). Mam'-ook 
sah'-ha-lee. 

Light, daylight. Twah. 
Light-colored. T'kope. 
Lightning. Shilth'-lo (O. C., 
Sah'-ha-lee pi'-ah.) 

Like (same as). Kah'-kwa. 
Like (to). Tik'-eh. 

Limb (branch). Tsi-a-lits. 


24 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Listen. How. 

Little. Ten'-as. A little, 
Tenas hlyu. 

Live in or with. Mit'-lite. 
Liver. Has'-litch (Che.), 
chick. 

Long. Youtl'-kut. 

Long ago. Ahn'-kut-ty; la'- 
lee. 

Long time. La'-lee. 

Look (to). Nan'-ich. 

Look here! Nan'-ich! Nah! 


Look out! Kloshe nan'-ich! 
Looking-glass. She-lock'-um. 
Loose. Stoh. 

Lose. Tsee'-pee; tso'-lo. 
Lost. Marsh. 

Loud. Skoo'-kum la-tlah'. 
Louse. E'-na-poo. 

Love. Tik'-eh. 

Lower (let down). Mam'- 
ook kee'-quil-ly. 

Lumber. La plash'. 


M 


Mad (angry). Sol-lex. 

Magic. Ta-mah'-na-wus. 

Magistrate. Ty-ee'. 

Magnify. Chah'-co hy-as'. 

Maiden. Ulick. 

Make. Mam'-ook. 

Male. Man. 

Malice. Me-sah'-chee tum'- 
tum. 

Mallard duck. Kweh- 
kweh; haht-haht. 

Man. Man. White man, 
Squintum (Che.). 

Manage. Kum'-tux ik'-ta. 

Mankind. Kon'-a-way til'- 
a-kum. 

Mane. Ku'-I-tan yok'-s5. 

Manacle (handcuff). 
Mam'-ook kow le-mah'. 

Mansion. Hy-as' house. 

Manual. Mam'ook ko'-pa 
le-mah'. 

Many. Hi-yu'. 

Mark. Mam'-ook tzum. 

Market. Mar'-kook house. 


Marrow. Gleese mit'-lite 
ko'-pa bone. 

Marry. Mal-ley. 

Mass. La masse' (the Cath¬ 
olic ceremony). 

Mast. Ship stick. 

Master. Ty-ee'. 

Mat. Klis'-kwiss. 

Mattock. Le pe-osh. 

Mayor. Town ty-ee'. 

Me. Ni'-ka. 

Meal (flour). Sap'-o-lil. 
Meal (a). Muck'-a-muck. 
Mean (spiteful). Wake 
kloshe. 

Measure (to). Tah'-nim. 
Meat. Itl'-wil-lee. 
Medicine. Le mes'-ten, or 
mes-sen' (O. C., Ep- 

tlach). 

Mellow. Pi'-ah. 

Melt. Chah'-co klim-min'. 
Mend. Mam'-ook tip'-shin. 
Menstruate. Marsh pil'-pil. 
Merchant. Mar'-kook man. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


25 


Merry. Kwan. 

Metal. Chick'-a-min. 
Metropolis. Ty-ee' town. 
Middle. Kat'-suk. 
Midnight. Sit'-kum po-lak'- 
le. 

Migrate. Klat'-a-wa kah. 
Milk. Too-toosh'. 

Mill. Le moo'-lah. 

Mine (my own). Ni'-ka. 
Minister. Le plate'. 
Minnow. Ten'-as pish. 
Mire. Klim-min' ill'-a-hee. 
Miracle. Hul-oi'-mee mam'- 
ook. 

Mirror. She-lock'-um. 
Mirth. Tee-hee'. 

Miss (to). Tsee'-pee; tsd'- 

16 . 

Mist. Ten'-as snass. 
Mistake (to). Tsee'-pee. 
Mite (a little). Ten'-as. 
Moan. Cly. 

Mob. Sol'-lex til'-a-kum. 
Moccasins. Skin shoes. 
Molasses. Me-lass'. 

Mole. Skad. 

Money. Chick'-a-min. 
Month. Moon. 

Moon. Moon (O. C., All- 
chee). 

Moose. Ul'-chey (ool'chey). 


Moral (upright). Kloshe. 

More. Weght. 

Morning. Ten'-as sun. 

Mosquito. Mel'-ak-wa. 

Mother. Mam'-ma (O. C., 
Na-ha'). 

Mottled (dappled). Le kye'. 

Mountain. La-mon-tai'. 

Mouse. Hool-hool. 

Mouth. La-boosh' (O. C., 
E-mets-kil; C h e h a 1 i s, 
Klunge). 

Move (remove). Marsh. 

Mow. Tl'kope tip'-so. 

Much. Hi'-yu. (O. C., Og- 
hu-way). 

Mud. Waight. 

Mule. Le-mel'. 

Murder. Mam'-ook mem'- 
-aloose. 

Muse (reflect). Mam'-ook 
turn -turn. 

Music. Tin'-tin. 

Musket. Musket. 

Muskrat. E-min'-te-pu. 

Mussels. To'-lux. 

Mustard. Pi'-ah tip'-so. 

Mute. Ha'-lo wa-wa. 

Mystery. Hy-as' hul-oi'- 
mee. 

My. Ni'-ka. 


N 


Nab. Is'-kum. 

Nail. Le-kloo'. 

Nails (finger nails and toe¬ 
nails). To'-wah. 

Naked. Wake ik'-ta mit'- 
lite. 


Name. Nem; Y&h'-hul. 
Nap. Sleep. 

Nasty (dirty). Kul'-tus; 
Me-sah'-che. 

Navel. Ten-tome' (Che.). 


26 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Navigate. Klat'-a-wa kopa 
chuck. 

Near. Wake si-ah; Yatch 
(O. C.), Mal-tee'-ny. 

Neat. Kloshe. 

Neck. Le-coo'; Oquan'-ax 
(O. C., Cheap). 

Need (to want). Hy-as' tik- 
eh. 

Needle (a). Tup'-shin. 

Needy. Kla-how'-yum. 

Negro. Klale til'-a-kum; 
Neg'ga. 

Neighbor. Til'-a-kum mit'- 
lite wake si-ah'. 

Nephew. Ack. 

Nerve. Tle-pait'. 

Nest. Kul'-la-kul'-la house. 

Never. Wake kon'-see. 

New. Chee. 


Night (darkness). Po-lak-ly. 
Nine. Kweest, or Kwaist. 
No (not). Wake. 

Nobody. Wake klaksta. 
Noise. Le-tlah'. 

None. Ha'-lo. 

Nonsense. Kul'-tus wa'-wa. 
Noon. Sit'-kum sun. 

North. Sto'-be-lo. 

Nose (snout). Nose; E- 
meets' (Chehalis, Moch'- 
ea). 

Not. Wake. 

Nothing. O'-ne-tan. 
Notwithstanding. Kegh'- 
che. 

Now. Al'-ta (O. C., Wit'- 
ka). 

Nozzle. Nose. 

Nutriment. Muck'-a-muck. 


O 


Oak. Kull stick. 

Oar. La lam'. 

Oats. La-wen'. 

Obscene. Me-sah'-chee. 
Observe. Nan'-ich. 

Ocean. Hy-as' salt chuck. 

(O. C.), We-co'-ma. 

Ochre. Kaw-ka-wak' ill'-a- 
hee. 

Odd. Hul-oi'-me. 

Off. Klak. 

Off-shore. Maht-lin-nee. 
Offal. Kul'-tus. 

Oil. Gleese. To oil, Mam^- 
ook gleese. 

Old. O'-le-man (O. C., 

Shoo). 


Old woman. La mai'. 

On. Ko'pa. 

Once. Ko-pet' ikt time. 

One. Ikt. 

Onion. L’on-ion'; U-la- 
lach'. 

Only. Ko-pet ikt. 

Open. Hah-lakl'. 

Opinion. Tum'-tum. 

Opposite (across). In'-a-ti, 
or ee'-na-ti. 

Or. Pe. 

Order (to). Pot'-latch 
kum'-tux. 

Ornamental (gay colors). 
Tzum. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


27 


Orphan. Ha'-lo papa, halo 
mamma. 

Other. Hul-oi'-mee. Other 
side, Ee'nati. 

Otter (land otter). Ne-nem'- 
ooks. Sea otter, E-lak'-ka. 

Our. Ne-si'-ka. 

Outdoors (outside). Kla'- 
ha-nee. 

Out (to put outside; to 
drive away). Mam'-ook 
kla'-ha-nee. 


Outlaw. Me-sah'-chee til'- 
a-kum. 

Over (above). Sah'-ha-lee. 

Overcoat. Hy-as Ca-po'. 

Owl. Waugh-waugh. 

Own (my own). Ni'-ka ik'- 
ta. 

Ox. Moos-moos. 

Oyster, oysters. Chitlo; klo- 
klo. 


P 


Pacify. Chah'-c5 kloshe. 
Paddle (a). Is'-sick. 
Paddle (to). Mam'-ook is'- 
sick. 

Pain. Sick. 

Paint. Pent. 

Pair. Mox. 

Pale. T'kope. 

Paltry. Ten'-as. 

Pants (pantaloons). Sa-kul'- 
leks. 

Panther. Hy-as' puss-puss; 

Swad-wa'. 

Pap. Too-toosh'. 

Papa. Papa. 

Paper. Pa'-peh. 

Parents. Papa pe mamma. 
Park. Kldshe ill'-a-hee. 
Parrot. Wa'-wa kul'-la- 
kul-la. 

Patch (to patch). Tope'- 
chin. 

Part. Sit'-kum. 

Partake. Is'-kum. 

Path. Oo'-e-hut. 


Pauper. Kla-how'-yum til'- 
a-kum. 

Paw. Le pe-ay. 

Pay. Pot'-latch chick'-a- 
min. 

Peak. Sah'-ha-lee ill'-a-hee. 
Peas. Le-pwah'. 

Pebble. Ten'-as stone. 

Peep. Ten'-as nan'-ich. 
Penintent. Sick tum'-tum. 
Penis (membrum virile). 
Woot'-lat. 

People. Til'-a-kum. 
Perhaps. Klo-nass'. 
Perpetual. Kwon'-e-sum. 
Petticoat (skirt). Kal-a- 
kwah'-tee. 

Petty. Ten'-as. 

Physic. Le mes-tin'; mes'- 
sen. 

Piebald. Le kye'. 

Piety (pious). Kloshe. 

Pig. Ko'sho. 

Pill. Le mes-tin'. 

Pin. Kwek'-we-ens. 


28 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Pine (or any resinous tree). 

La-goom' stick. 

Pipe. La-peep'. 

Pistol. Ten'-as musket. 

Pit (hole). Ket'-wil-la. 
Pitch. La goom. 

Plain (prairie). Tillamook, 
Kolote. 

Plank. La-plash'. 

Plate. Las-siett'. 

Play. Mam'-ook hee'-hee. 
Pleased. Youth 
Plow. Le-shal-loo'. 

Plow (to). Klugh ill'-a-hee. 
Pole. Le-pesh'. 

Poor. Kla-how'-yum. 
Porgy. Cuk'-ko (Che.). 
Pork. Ko'-shd itl-wil-lee. 
Porpoise. Kwi-see'-o. 

Pot. Ket'-ling. 

Potato. Wap'-a-td. 

Pour (to). Te-wagh'. 
Powder. Po'-lal-ly. 

Prairie. Tip'-so ill'-a-hee. 
(Tillamook, Ko-lote'.) 


Prairie wolf (coyote). Tol'- 
a-pus. 

Pray. Wa'wa ko'pa Sah'- 
ha-lee Ty-ee'. 

Precious. Hy-as kloshe. 

Present (a). Kul'-tus pot'- 
latch. 

Presently. Al'-k!; win-a- 
pee. 

Pretty (nice; good). Toke'- 
tee. 

Priest. Le-plate'. 

Prophet (soothsayer). E- 
tam-a-na. 

Proud. Kwetl; Yoult. 

Prove. De-late kum'tux. 

Provide. Is'-kum ik'-tas. 

Provoke. Mam'-ook sol-lex. 

Prow. Nose. 

Prowl. Klat'-a-wa kah- 
kah'. 

Pudenda (vulva). Ta-ni'- 
no. 

Pull. Haul. 

Push (squeeze). Kwut'l. 


o 


Quahaug clams. Smet'-ok. 

Quail (partridge). Ill'-a- 
hee kul'-la-kul'-la. 

Quail (to). Chah'-co 
kwass'. 

Quarrel. Sol'-lex wa-wa. 

Quarter of a dollar. Ikt 
kwah'-ta. 

Quarter (a fourth). Ten'- 
as sit'-kum; kwah'ta. 


Quartz. Chick'-a-min kd'- 
pa stone. 

Queen. Klooch'-man ty-ee'. 
Queer. Hul-oi'-mee. 
Quench. Ko-pet pi'ah. 
Quick. Hy-ak'. 

Quills. Te-peh'. 

Quilt. Tzum pa-see'-see. 



CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 

R 


29 


Rabbit. Kwet'-sha-dee. 

Rabid. Me-sah'-chee sol'- 
lex. 

Race. Hy-ak' coo'-lee. 

Racehorse. Coo'-lee ku'-i- 
tan. 

Rag. Kul'-tus sail. 

Rage. Hy-as' sol'-lex. 

Rain. Snass (O. C., Stoo' 
lis). 

Rake. Illahee comb. 

Rare. Wake hi-yu'. 

Ram. Man le-moo'-to. 

Ramble. Klat'-a-wa. 

Rapid (swift). Hy-ak' 
mam'-ook. 

Rapids of a river. Chuck 
hy-ak'. 

Raspberries. Se-ah'-pult o'- 
lil-lee. 

Rat. Co'-lee-co'-lee. 

Rattle. Shug. 

Rattlesnake. Shug o'-poots. 

Raw. Wake pl'-Sh. 

Razor. Kla-poo'-chus o-pit'- 
sah. 

Razor clam. O'-na. 

Reach (to arrive). K5. 

Read (to). Kum'-tux pa'- 
peh; kum'-tux book. 

Reap. T'lkope' sap'-o-lil. 

Red. Pil (sometimes pro¬ 
nounced Pel). 

Regret. Sick tum'-tum. 

Reject. Marsh. 

Rejoice. Mam'-ook kwan. 

Relate (tell). Wa'-wa. 

Remain. Mit'-lite. 


Remember. Wake ko-pet' 
kum'-tux. 

Remorse. Cly tum'-tum. 

Remote. Si-ah'. 

Remove. Marsh. 

Renew. Mam'-ook chee. 

Repent. Keel'-a-py tum'- 
tum. 

Reply. Wa'wa. 

Reptile. Kah'-kwa o'-luk. 

Reside. Mit'-lite. 

Resign. Ko-pet'. 

Resolute. Skoo'-kum tum'- 
tum. 

Rest. Ha'-Io mam'-ook. 

Restaurant. Muck'-a-muck 
house. 

Resurrection. Mem'-a-loose 
mit'-wit. 

Retire (to go to bed). Ma- 
hox'-te. 

Return. Chah'-co weght. 

Ribbon. Le-lo'-ba. 

Ribs. E'-tin-will; tel'-e-min. 

Rice. Lice. 

Ride. Klat'-a-wa ko'-pa 
chick'-chick. 

Rifle. Cal-i-peen'. 

Right (at the right). Ken- 
ki-Sm'. 

Ring (a). Kweo-kweo. 

Ripe. Pi'-ah. 

Rise. Mit'-wit. 

River. Chuck (O. C., Ik- 
hol', preferable). 

Road. Oo'-e-hut. 

Roam. Klat'-a-wa si-ah'. 

Roan-color. San'-de-lee. 


30 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Roar. Hi'-yu la-tlah'. 

Roast. Mam'-ook la-pel'-la. 

Roasted meat. La-pel'-la; 
ap-po'-la. 

Robust. Skoo'-kum. 

Rock. Stone. A better word 
is “Kais,” the old Chi¬ 
nook. 

Roe (fish eggs). Pish le- 
sep'. 

Roof. Sah'-ha-lee ko'-pa 
house. 

Rooster (cock). Man la- 
poor. 


Rope. Lope. 

Rosin. Kull la-goom'. 
Rotten. Poo'-lee. 

Round (circular; ring-like). 
Tsole. 

Round (like a sphere). Lo- 
wul'-lo. 

Row (to). Mam'-ook le- 
lahm'. 

Rum. Lum. 

Run. Coo'-lee. Run away, 
Kap'-swal-la klat'-a-wa. 
Rupture. Kok'-shut. 


S 


Sack. Le sac. 

Sad. Sick tum'-tum. 

Saddle. La-sell'. 
Saddle-housings. Le-pish'- 
e-md. 

Sail. Sill, or sail. 

Sailor. Ship'-man. 

Saliva. La-boos' chuck; toh. 
Salmon. Sam'-mon (O. C., 
Equan'nat). 

Salt. Le sell, or salt. 

Same. Kon'-a-mox. 

Sand. Po'-lal-ly. 

Sandwich Islands, Hawaii. 
Owyhee. 

Sash, belt. La-san-jel'. 
Save; keep. Is'-kum. 

Saw. La see'. 

Say, to. Wa-wa. 

Scales of a fish. Pish skin. 
Scarce. Wake hi-yu'. 
Scarlet. Hy-as' pil. 


Scatter. Marsh kon'-a-way 
kah. 

Schooner. Mox stick ship. 

Scissors. Le-see'-zd. 

Scold. Sol lex wa-wa. 

Scoundrel. Me-sah'-chee 
til'-a-kum. 

Scream. Skoo'-kum cly. 

Scribe, clerk. Tzum til'-a- 
kum. 

Scythe. Youtl'-kut o-pit'- 
sah. 

Sea. Salt chuck. We-co'- 
ma (O. C.), is better. 

Seal. Ol'-hi-yu. 

Sea otter. E-lak' ka. 

See. Nan'-ich. 

Seed. Seed. 

Seek, to. Tik'-eh klap. 

Seethe. Skoo'-kum lip-lip. 

Seldom. Wake hi-yu'. 

Self, myself. Ni'-ka. 



CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


31 


Sell. Mar'-kook. 

Sense. Kum-tux. 

Serious. Wake hee'-hee. 
Serpent. O'-luk. 

Serve, to. Mam'ook. 

Seven. Sin'-a-mox. 

Sew, to. Mam'-ook tip'- 
shin. 

Shake. Td'-td, Hul-hul. 
Shallow. Wake kee'-kwil- 

ly- 

Shame. Shem. (O. C. nach- 
a-mats) 

Share. Sit'-kum. 

Shark. Hy-as' kom'-ooks 
pish. 

Sharp. Yah-kis-ilth'. Tsish. 
Sharpen, to. Mam'-ook tsish. 
She. Yah'-ka. 

Shear. Mam-ook La-see'- 
zo. 

Sheep. Le moo'-to. 

Shell, money, (the small). 
Koop-koop; al-li'-ka- 
cheek'. 

Shell, money (the large). 
Hy'-kwa. 

Shingle. Le-bah'-do. 
Shining. T' wah. 

Ship. Ship. 

Shirt. Shut. 

Shoes. Shoes. 

Shoot, to. Mam'-ook poh. 
Short. Yutes-kut. 

Shot, bullet. Ten'-as le bal'; 

kli'-e-tan; shot. 

Shot pouch. Kli'-e-tan le- 
sac'. Tsole'-put. 
Shoulders. Ok-chock. 

Shout, to. Hy'-as wa'-wa. 


Shovel. La-pell'. 

Shower. Ten'-as snass'. 
Shrimp. She-sinch. (Che.) 
Shut, to. Ik-poo'-yee. 

Sick. Sick; et-sit'-sa. 

Sift, to. To'-td. 

Silence. Ha'-lo tlah. 

Silk. La-soy'. 

Silver. T'kope' chick'-a- 
min. 

Simmer. Ten'-as lip'-lip. 
Similar. Kah-kwa. 

Sin, sinful. Me-sah'-chee. 
Since. Kim'-ta. 

Sincere. Wake kla-min'-a- 
wit. 

Sing, to. Shon tay'. (O. C. 

Ny-ee'-na). 

Sink. Marsh klip. 

Sister. O-qua-tum. Ats (if 
younger than the speaker; 
Kah'-pd, if older). 

Sit, to. Mit-lite (to stay). 

Old Chinook, yoots. 

Six. Tah'-kum. 

Size (what). Kon'-see hy- 
as'. 

Skin. Skin. 

Skunk. Skub'-be-oo. 

Humm-o-pooch'. 

Sky. Koo'-sah. (O. C., 

Skatl). 

Slap. Kok'-shut. 

Slave. E-li-tee. 

Slay. Mem'-a'loose. 

Sleep. Moo'-sum. 

Slow, slowly. Klah'-wa. 
Small. Ten'-as. (O. C., 

hook). 

Smell. Humm. 


32 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Smelt (“candle fish”) Ul' 
ken. (ool'-kun). 

Smoke. Smoke. 

Snake. O'-luk. 

Snare. La pee-age'. 

Snow. Cole snass. (Che- 
halis, Clak-oo'). 

Soap. Soap. 

Soft. Klim-min'. 

Soil. Ill'-a-hee. 

Sole. Kee'-kwil-ly le-pee-a\ 

Solid. Kull. 

Solitary. Ko'-pet ikt. 

Son. Et-sich'-a. 

Soon. Wake la'-lee. Tshi'- 
keh, al'ki. 

Sore. Sick. 

Sorrel (horse). Le-blau. 

Sorry. Sick-tum'-tum. 

Soul. Ta-mah'-na - wus, 
tum'-tum. 

Sound. La-tlah'. 

Soup. Lip'-lip muck-a- 
muck. 

Sour. Kwates. 

South. Ste-wah'. South 
wind. 

Sow, to. Marsh sap'-d-lil 
ko'-pa ill'-a-hee. 

Sow, a. Klooch'-man ko- 
sho. 

Spade. La-pell. 

Spark (of fire). Tle'-yuk. 

Sparrow. Ten'-as kul'-la- 
kul'-la. 

Speak. Wa'-wa. 

Spectacles. Dol'-la se-ah'- 
wust. 

Spike. Hy-as'-le-kloo'. 

Spill, to. Wagh. 


Spirit. Ta-mah'-na wus. A 
good spirit, e-kone'. 
Spirits, liquor. Lum. 

Spit. Toh; mam'-ook toh'. 
Split. Tsugh. 

Spoil. Chah'-co kul'-tus. 
Spoiled. Kul'-tus. 

Spoon. Spoon. 

Spotted (horse). Le-kye. 

Marked, figured. Tzum. 
Spring, Springtime. Tenas 
waum. 

Spruce tree. Se'-cartl (Che.). 
Spurs. Le see' bio. 

Squirrel. Kwiss-kwiss'. 

(The pine squirrel). 
Squaw. Klooch'-man. 

Stab. Klem'-a-hun. 

Stag. Man mow'-i'ch. 
Stanch, to. Mamook t'sak'. 
Stand. Mit-wit. (O. C., 
the-mil'). 

Stars or star. Tsil'-tsil. 
Stare. Hi'-yu nan'-i'ch. 
Stay, to. Mit'-lite. 

Steal. Kap'-swal-la. (O. 

C., Ut-soo'-tuk). 

Steam. Smoke. 

Steamer. Pi'-ah ship. 
Stench. Pu-pti', humm'. 
Stick. Stick. 

Still, quiet. T'lkul. 

Sting. O'-poots klem'-a- 
hun. 

Stirrup. Sit' lay. 

Stockings, socks. Kush'-is, 
stocken. 

Stomach. Ten-sart (Che.). 
Stone. Stone. (O. C., 
Kais). 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


33 


Stop. Ko-pet'. 

Store. Mar'-hook house. 

Storm (wind). Hi-yu' 
wind. Rainstorm, hi-yu' 
snass. 

Story. Eh-kah'-nam. 

Straight. De-late'. Straight, 
erect, upright, Si'-pah. 

Strange. Hul-oi' mee. 

Stranger. Hul-oi'-mee til'-a- 
kum. 

Straw. Dly tip'-so. 

Strawberries. Ah-mo'-teh. 

Stray. Klat'-a-wa kah-k&h'. 

Strike, to. Kok'-shut. 

Strong. Skoo'-kum. (O. C., 
Su-puk). 

Sturegon. Stut'-chun. 

Stubborn. 

Subdue. To'-ld. 

Sugar. Le-sook'. 


Sun. Sun. (O. C., d'-tl&h. 
Ikt Sun Monday (or one 
day) ; mox sun, Tuesday, 
etc. 

Sunday. Sunday. Ikt Sun¬ 
day, one week, etc. 

Sunrise. Sun mit'-wit. 

Sunset. Klip sun. 

Suppose. Spose; klo-nass'. 

Surprise (exclamation of). 
Hwah. 

Suspect. Spose me-sah'- 
chee. 

Swan. Kah-ldken', ow- 
woo'-chee. 

SWap. Hoo'-ee hoo-ee. 

Sweep, to. Mam'-ook bloom. 

Sweet. Tsee. 

Swell. Pow'-il. 

Swim. Sit'-chum. 


T 


Table. La-tahb'. 

Tack. Ten'-as le-kloo'. 

Tail. O'-poots or o-pooch'. 

Take, to. Is'-kum. 

Take care. Kloshe nan-ich. 

Take off, or out. Mam'- 
ook klah'. Marsh. 

Tale, story. YI'-em; eh- 
kSh'-nam. 

Talk. Wa'-wa. 

Tall. Hy-as'. 

Tallow. Gleese; moos'- 
moos gleese. 

Tame. Kwass. 

Tan. Marsh yak'-so ko'-pa 
skin. 


Tap. Ko-ko. 

Tardy. Kla-wah'. 

Tart, sour. Kwates. 

Taste. Ten'-as muck'-a- 
muck. 

Tea. Tea. 

Teach. Mam'-ook kum'- 
tux. 

Tear, to. Klugh. 

Tear, a. See-ah'-wust 
chuck. 

Tell, to. Wa'-wa; yi'-em. 
Teeth. Le-tau; ots-ats-ach, 
Teetotaler. Is'-kum ha'-lo- 
lum. 

Ten. Tahtlum. 


34 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Tender. Wake kull; klim- 
min'. 

Tent. Sail house. 

Tepid. Ten'-as waum. 

Terror. Hy-as' kwass. 

Testicle. Stone. 

Testify. De-late' yl'-em. 

Thanks, thank you. Mes- 
see'. 

That. O-kdke. (O. C., 

Koo-sal'-la). 

That way. Yah'-wa. 

Thaw. Chah'-cd chuck. 

They. Klas'-ka. (O. C., 

Kla-bi'-ka). 

There, thither. Yah'-wa. 

Thick, viscid. Pit-lilT. 

Thief. Til-a-kurw mam'- 
ook kap-swal'-la. 

Thigh. Ten-se'-quok. 

(Chi.) 

Thin, as shingle, ice, etc. 
P'che; pe wh&t'-tee 

Thine. Thou. Mi'-ka. 

Thing. Ik'-ta. 

Think. Pit-tuck'; mam'- 
ook tum'-tum. 

This. O'-koke. This way, 
Y&h'-kwa. 

Thirsty. O'-lo chuck. 

Thou. Mi'-ka. (O. C., 

Noo). 

Thread. Kla-pite'. 

Three. Klone. 

Throw, to throw away. 
Marsh. 

Thunder. S&h'-ha'lee skoo'- 
kum wa-wa. Kan-a- 
wak'-soo-ma. (O. C.) 


Thunder-bird. Hah-ness' 
This was a great figure in 
the old Indian mythology. 

Tide. Chuck chah'-cd pe 
klat'-a-wa. 

Tie, to. K5w. 

Tight, secure. Kwutl. 

Timid. Kwass. 

Tinware. Ma-lah'. 

Tip, to. Lagh. 

Tire, of a wagon. Chick'- 
chick chick'-a-min. 

Tired, weary. Till. 

To, toward. Ko'-pa. 

Tobacco. Kl-nootl'; ki- 
noos'. (In Klickitat, tah- 
wa'). A substitute for to¬ 
bacco, the leaves of the 
kinnikinnic', or bear ber¬ 
ry (arctoslophylus u<va 
ursi), a pretty, vine-like 
shrub of the country near 
the coast, was smoked. 

Today. Ikt sun. (O. C., 

Chan.) 

Tomorrow. To-mol'-la. 
Wa'-kee. 

Tongue. LS-lang'. 

Top, house top. S&h'ha-lee 
kopa house. Treetop, Sah'- 
ha-lee stick. 

Tough, Kull. 

Tow. Mam'-ook haul k5'- 
pa chuck. 

Toward. Chih'-c5 ySh'- 
wa. 

Towel. See-Sh'-wust sail. 

Trade, swap, barter. Hoo'- 
ee hoo'-ec. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


35 


Tradesman, storkeeper. 

Mah'-kook-man. 

Trail. Oo'-e-hut. 

Tramp, vagabond. Kul' 
tus til'-a-kum. 

Trap. Le-pe-age'. 

Trash. Kul'-tus ik'-tah. 
Travel. Klat'-a-wa. 

Tree. Stick. (O. C., 
shwal'-peh). 

Tremble, to. Ha-let'. 

Trot. Teh-teh'. 

Trousers. Sa-kul'-lex. 


Ugly. Wake toke'-tee. 
Uncle. Tot 
Under. Kee'-kwil-ly. 
Understand. Kum'-tux. (O 
C., e-chim'-lee). 
Unhappy. Sick tum'-tum. 
Untamed. Le-mo'-lo. 

Untie. Mam'-ook stoh; 
M£rsh kow. 


Trout. Tzum sam'-mon. 
True. De-late' (also truly). 
Trunk. La-cas-sett'. 

- Truth. De-late' wa'-wa. 
Try. Mam'-ook. 

Tub. Ta-md'-litch. 

Turn, to. Keel' a-py. 
Turnips. Lk Moo' au. 
Twilight. Twah. 

Twine. Ten'-as lope. 
Twist, to. Mam'-ook keel'- 
a-py. 

Two, twice. Mox, moxt. 


U 

Up. SSh'-ha-lee. 

Upset, to. Keel'-a-py. 
Urchin. Ten'-as til'-a-kum. 
• Urge. Hy-as' tik'-eh. 

Us, our, we. Ne-si'-ka. 

Use, to. Mam'-ook. 

Useless. Kul'-tus. 


Vacant. Wake ik'-tah mit'- 
lite. 

Vagabond. Kul'-tus til'-a- 
kum. 

Vain, proud. Youtl. 
Valiant. Skoo'-kum. 

Valise. Ten'-as cas-sett'. 
Valley. Coo'-lee. 

Vapor. Smoke. 


V 

■ Veal. T en'-as-moos'-moos 
itl-wil'-lee. 

' Vegetables. Muck'-a-muck 
chSh'-cd kopa ill'-a hee. 

Veins. Ten-arts-lets. (Che.). 

Vehicle. Chick'-chick. 

Venison. Mow'-Ich itl-wil'- 
lee. 


36 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Victuals. Muck'-a-muck. 

View. Nan'-ich. 

Vigil. Wake moo'-sum. 

Vile. Kul'-tus. 

Village. Ten'-as town. 

Villain. Me-sah'-chee til'- 
a-kum. 

Vine. Youtl'-kut tip'-so. 

Viper. Ten'-as o'-luk. 

Virgin. Wake kum'-tux- 
man. 

Vision. Ta-mah'-na-wus. 

Visit. Klat'-a-wa nan'-ich 
til'-a-kum. 


Voice. Wa-wa. 

Volcano. Pi'-ah la-mon-tai\ 
Vomit, to. Wagh. 

Vermin, fleas, etc. Ee'-na- 
poo. 

Very. Hy-as'. very bad, 
hy-as' kul'-tus. 

Vessel. Ship. 

Vest. La west. 

Vial. Ten'-as la-boo-tai'. 
Vice. Me-sah'-chee. 

Victor. Td'-ld til'-a-kum. 


W 


Wade. Klat'-a-wa ko'-pa 
chuck. 

Wagon. Chick-chick. 

Wail. Hi-yu' cly. 

Wait. Win'-a-pee. 

Walk. Klat'-a-wa. 
Wampum: shell money. 
Hy'-kwa. 

Wander, to. Tso'-ld. 

Want, to. Tik'-eh. 

War, to. Mam'-ook pite. 
Warn. Waum. (O. C., 

Whul'-lah). 

Warning. Pot'-latch kum'- 
tux ko'-pa me-sah'-chee. 
Warrior. Pite til'-a-kum. 
Wash, to. Mam'-ook wash. 
Wasp. An-de-al'. 

Waste, to. Kul'-tus m&rsh. 
Watch, a. Tick-tick. 
Watch, to. Kloshe nan-ich. 
Water. Chuck. 


Waterspout. Chuck oo'-e- 
hut. 

Waterfall. Tum'-water. 
We. Ne-si'-ka. (O. C., U- 
ne-im). 

Weak. Wake skoo'-kum. 
Wed. Mam'-ook mal'-leh. 
Weed. Kul'-tus tip'-so. 
Week. Ikt Sunday. 

Weep. Cly. 

Weigh, to. Mam'-ook till. 
Well; well then. Ab'-ba. 
West. Sun mit'-lite. 

Wet. Pahtl chuck. 

Whale. E-co'-la; kwad'-dis. 
What? Ik'-tah? (Chehalis, 
tarn). 

What color? Kah'ta tzum? 
Wheat. Sap'-o-lil or lebley. 
Wheel. Chick-chick. 

When. Kun'-juk; k5n'-see. 
Where. Kih. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


37 


Whip. Le-whet'. 

Whisky. Lum. 

White. T'kope. 

Who. Klax'-ta. (O. C., 

wat.) 

Whole. Ld'-lo. 

Whore. Kul'-tus klooch'- 
man. 

Why. Kah'-ta. 

Wicked. Me-sah'-chee. 

Wide. Kluk-ull'. 

Wild. Le-mo'-ld. 

Widow. Klooch'-man yah'- 
ka man mem'-a-loose. 

Wife. Klooch'-man mit'- 
lite kd'-pa ikt man. O- 
quk'-a-kull. 

Will, the. Turn'-turn. 

Willow. Ee'-na stick. 

Wild. Le-md'-ld. 

Wilderness. Le-mo-lo ill'- 
a-hee. 

Will, the. Tum'-tum. 

Will you? Shall you? Nah? 
(See nah). 

Win, to. To'-lo. 

Wind. Wind. (O. C., 

st'loo). 

Window. Se-loke'-mil; 
glass. 

Wing. Te-peh'. 

Wink, to. Mam'-ook see 
ah'-wust. 

Winter. Cole ill'-a-hee. 


Wipe, to. Klak'-wun. 

Wire. Chick'-a-min lope'. 

Wise. Hi-yu kum'-tux. 

Wish. Tik'-eh. 

With. Ko'-pa. 

Withdraw. Mam'-ook 
keel'-a-py. 

Witchcraft. Me-sah'-chee 
ta-mah'- na-wus. 

Without, having none. Ha'- 

15 . 

Without, not in, outside. 
Kla'-ha-nee. 

Wolf. Le-loo. 

Wool. Le-moo'-to-yak'- 
so. 

Woman. Klooch'-man. (O. 
C., tluck-ull'). 

Woman’s gown. Coat. 

Woo. Tik'-eh mal'-leh. 

Wood, wooden. Stick. (O. 
C., Ec-skann and Ubsh.) 

Work. Mam'-ook. 

World. Kon'-a'way ik'- 
tah. 

Worn-out. O'-le-man. 

Worse (to become). Chah'- 
co hi'-yu' sick. 

Worthless. Kul'-tus. 

Wound, to. Klem'-a-hun; 
kwult. 

Write, to. Mam'-ook tzum. 

Writing. Tzum. 

Wrong. Wake kloshe. 


38 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 
Y 


Yard. Ikt stick'. 

Yankee. Boston. 

Yawn. Tik'-eh moo'-sum. 

Year. Cole or kol. Ikt kol, 
one year; klone kol, three 
years. 

Yearn. Hy-as' tik-eh. 

Ye. Mesi'ka. (O. C., tla- 
di'-ka). 

Yell. Skoo'-kum cly. 

Yellow. Kaw'-wa-wak. 

Yelp. Kow'-mooks cly. 


Yes. A'-ha. 

Yes, indeed. Na-wit'-ka. 
Yesterday. Tahl'-kee; tahl'- 
kee sun. (O. C., Te a'- 
lis). 

Yonder. Yah'-wa. 

You (singular). Mika. 

Plural, me-si-ka. 

Your, yours (singular). 

Mika. Plural, me-si'-ka. 
Young. Ten'-as. (O. C., 
Kwalim'). 


CHINOOK OF THE PURE OLD TYPE 

{Meaning of Names.) 

Our “Jargon” is deficient in inflection, comparison, 
gender and many other features of a finished language. 
The original Chinook was more abundant in such in¬ 
flections than English. Dr. Franz Boas spent years in 
the study of the Indian tongues about the mouth of 
the Columbia, and his records of Chinook, Chehalis 
and Cathlamet are bewildering in their complexity. 
The “number” of nouns among the Chinook included, 
like the Greek, singular, dual and plural. The genders 
were all expressed by a primal syllable, of which form 
some words in the Jargon still are evidences, as: E-lite, 
a masculine slave (though used indiscriminately in 
Jargon), E-lahka, E-salth; the prefix E denoting the 
masculine. A primal o indicated the feminine, as in 
o-quanax, o-qulakull, and an initial l, which was 
spoken like a forcible gl, and which was one of the 
uncanny features of their speech to Europeans and 
Americans, denoted the neuter, as in / ukutchee, clams; 
(/)tsuk, water. 

Grammatical forms expressed great and small, and 
these ideas were indicated by the regular construction 
of words expressing these ideas, as M-pkwan, a large 
basket; o-pikwan, a small basket. Instead of a separate 
pronoun denoting “my” father, “his” father, “their” 
father, etc., the noun itself was inflected, its changed 
form representing all our pronouns. Relationships in 
families are also remarkable, and even in the Jargon 
examples still persist, as: kahpo, an older brother; ow, 
a younger; but these words were used only by a person 
speaking of his own brothers. There were at least 
four forms for grandmother, covering both sides of a 
family, and uncles, aunts and other relatives were so 
nicely and thoroughly indicated by distinct words—- 
none of our son-in-law and “great-great” combinations 
—that there is a large vocabulary in family relation¬ 
ships alone. 


40 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


In the examples of the original Chinook given below 
the accusative and oblative case is indicated in the 
formation of compound words in some instances. Other 
examples are given to show the surprising extent of 
the old language and its arbitrary formation, ignoring 
the roots and clews by which we recognize words in 


Aryan tongues. 
Chinook. 

English Equivalent. 

Actungomit. 

He carried her away. 

Atstotena. 

He killed them. 

Nichelkulil. 

He spoke much to hinu 

Nop a. 

She went out. 

Nachelka. 

She grew angry. 

iNoya. 

She went. 

Tolk. 

A house. 

We wood ee 

Interior of a house. 

Yahka (same in Jargon). He. 

Tiaklietanema. 

His arrows. 

(Here the possessive 

is indicated by tia and the plural 

Kawok. 

by ema.) 

A guardian Spirit. 

Iakawok. 

His guardian Spirit. 

Imeyoghema. 

Your guardian Spirit. 

Iguannot. 

Chinook salmon. 

Glapta. 

Salmon eggs. 

Otsoyeha 

Blue-back salmon. 

Oowun. 

Silver salmon. 

Opalo. 

Trout. 

Olatee. 

Dog salmon. 

Elemich. 

The tutelary spirit of hunt¬ 

Iquamietch. 

ers. 

The tutelary spirit of fish¬ 

Wachs. 

ermen. 

Every morning. 

Liso. 

Dishes made from horn of 

Okulam. 

mountain sheep. 

The roar of the surf. 

Slkomam. 

They arrive at their house. 

The words above 

have strongly accented syllables 

which seem needless to indicate in this comparison. I 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


41 


have selected sonorous words. There are many in the 
old texts of Doctor Boas which would stagger a Pole. 
I insert a few names of places which seem worth re¬ 
cording. In one or two instances their meaning is 
based on reasonable conjecture. I have found no pre¬ 
vious record of their meaning except as stated: 

Narsuance (Wind River, Wash.) Big water. 

Necarney (originally N'akarna, a Clatsop word). 
The Great Spirit’s mountain. 

Akarna (Clatsop) origin of above. The Great Spirit 

Nekanakum (spelled commonly Necanicum). The 
spelling authorized by U. S. maps is Nekanakum. 
Southern sources of this stream rise in the Necarney 
ridge, and I venture the assertion that our modern name 
is only slightly corrupted from “Nakarnaikhol,” the 
“Spirit river.” 

Clatsop, derived from the Chinook word “kletstep” 
(I believe), which meant grass, grassy, grass-land. 
The “Clatsops” received the name of the country where 
they lived. 

Selipo or shelipoo. The old Chinook word for ice, 
icy, frozen. This definition fits Shilapoo lake, Clarke 
county, as explained in vocabulary. 

Shocatilcum. A Tillamook name for the lower Co¬ 
lumbia. The Indian, however, did not mean the water 
of the river, as we do by our names, but the country 
through which it ran. I take Shocatilcum from Lewis 
and Clark’s Journal. 

Wauna (pronounce Wah'na). Klickitat word for 
river, and doubtless applied to the Columbia, and prob¬ 
able to others also. (Wauna as a name for the Colum¬ 
bia valley by F. H. Balch in “Bridge of the Gods,” 
P- 75)- 


GRAMMAR OF THE JARGON 


There is no inflection of words. The same form is 
used generally for both singular and plural, though 
occasionally an s is added to indicate the plural of 
olillee (berry or berries), iktas and wappatoo. 

Mika, Nika, Mesika, etc., personal pronouns, are used 
in both nominative and objective cases, and also pos¬ 
sessive; but yahka is a distinct possessive, meaning his 
or her. The same word also serves as a demonstrative 
pronoun, signifying “that” person or thing. 

Okoke (or ocoke) is also a demonstrative, signifying 
this, this one. 

Klaxta is used as an interrogative pronoun for whose, 
as “ klaxta okoke kuitanf” Whose horse is this? 

There is no comparison of the adjective, but best is 
expressed by elip, which is literally “first.” Many is 
expressed bv hiyu, as “hiyti olillee,” plenty of berries; 
and much or very by hyas. 

There is no article, save that sometimes yahka or 
okoke is emploved to serve as definite “the”; “okoke 
6un” this day, “ocoke ten as” the child. 

No plural form of words. “Hiyu” expresses “many” 
in connection with nouns, as: “ Hiyu paseesee,” many 
blankets. 

Adjectives and modifiers precede substantive, as in 
English; “Skookum kuitan,” a strong horse; “ hyas 
eena,” big beavers. 

No inflection of adjectives, the comparison being ex¬ 
pressed by periphrasis, as “ wake mesahchee Siwash 



CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


43 


kahk<wa Pahsiooks” the Siwash is not wicked like the 
Frenchman; or “hiyu polaklee yahkvja” it is very 
dark here. Stress upon certain syllables expresses the 
idea of exaggeration as ", sidh” —the latter syllable more 
and more prolonged to indicate great distance. “Tenas” 
emphasized in this way means very small. ", Ahri kutty” 
very long ago. 

Genitive or possessive is expressed by construction, 
and the use of the personal pronouns, which become 
possessives when prefixed to nouns, as: “Nika okustee” 
my daughter; “ Yahka seahpo” his (or her) cap. 
“Klaksta okoke kuitan?” whose horse is that? “Nika” 
it is mine; “Nika komooks” your dog. 

The personal pronouns are: 

Nika, I. 

Mika, thou. 

Yahka, he, she, it 
Klaxta, who. 

Mesika, we. 

Nesika, you. 

Klaska, they, them. 

Among the interrogatives are “Iktah” what? 
What’s up now? etc. 

“Kah” where? whence? whither? 

“ Kahta” how? why? 

“ Kon-see” How many? how much? 

“ Klaxta” Who? 

“Howkwiitl” How can? how could? 

“Na” is a general interrogation, and used in many 
different forms of question. 


DERIVATION-PRONUNCIATION 


The origin of words in the following vocabulary is in¬ 
dicated as follows: Chinook words and words plainly 
derived from English are not marked. Words from the 
Chehalis are marked (Ch.) ; from Nootka (N.) ; from 
Wasco (W.) ; from Klickitat (K.) ; from Salishan 
tongues (S.) ; from Canadian and French (F). 

Invented words, and words of doubtful origin which 
have become incorporated in the Jargon are marked 
(J.). Words of less frequent use and unknown 
origin are marked (?). Many good words, worthy of 
perpetuation from the original Chinook, are indicated 
by the letters (O. C.). These are given not so much 
for enlargement of the vocabulary as for comparison, 
and for the preservation of old form, and have been 
culled from all existing words. In nearly every in¬ 
stance these words were actually in use in the time of 
Doctors McLoughlin, Tolmie and Birnie. 

Pronunciation is indicated as follows: Accented syl¬ 
lables by an accent mark ('). This accent is not in¬ 
variable in all words, but sometimes movable, as in 
“Klahanee,” which is accented on either first or last 
syllable. Sapolil varies its accent occasionally in the 
same way. There are very few variations of this 
kind, however. Tenas and hyas are among them. 

A (a) has the long, narrow sound of a in face, 
fade, when marked a, as Klale, delate. Short A is 
marked a as in common usage: Klak, miamook. The 
“Italian” broad A (a) will be indicated by the a in 



CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


45 


klah, marsh, etc. The a thus marked has the same 
sound as in arm. The broadest A (a) as in all, war, 
is used in wawa, kwan, etc. 

E has only the short (e) and long (e) sounds, indi¬ 
cated in the usual way. I, O and U also, have only the 
short and long sounds indicated as in phonetic English, 
except that U in some cases has the value of oo, as in 
ulchey, ulken and a few other words, for which our 
types have no special character. 

R, F and V were difficult or impossible to most of 
the Indians; but as the French word “marche” was 
taken into the Jargon it re.ains a semblance of its old 
form in “marsh.” Fire became “piah.” Some old 
forms retained in this edition have become fixed by 
usage, such as lagh, t'lkope, howkwut'l. Most of the 
early forms of Chinook words have been curtailed of 
these awkward combinations, and no doubt the spoken 
Jargon has lost its special characteristic, which was the 
powerful and frequent guttural. This is still indicated 
in certain words by an apostrophe following t 1 , 1’ and 
p’. The frequent sound of ch, a characteristic of the 
Chinook, sounded like the gh in the Irish word lough, 
is now represented in most cases by k. 

The modern usage of the vowels of the Jargon is 
better defined than that of the time of the Astoria 
settlement, for Alex. Ross, one of the Astor men, in his 
Chinook vocabulary, represents our klaxta by “tluxta,” 
ahnkutty by “ankate,” weght by “wought,” kuitan by 
“keutan,” kultus by “kaltash,” iskum by “eshkam.” 
Other early writers indicate the same doubtful vowel 
sounds of the Indian speech, which time and usage 
have brought to the simpler present forms. 


46 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Doctor Franz Boas took infinite pains to record the 
speech of the Chinooks precisely, and in his “Chinookan 
Texts” tlie uncouth aboriginal is exactly depicted. As 
an example, the word oqukakull is represented by three 
stutter-like, throaty gags in lieu of syllables, the final 
syllable containing the only vocal. 

This guttural exaggeration of k, t, g and 1 was char¬ 
acteristic of the tribes of the coast and lower Columbia, 
the language of the Indians on the eastern sources of 
the Columbia and beyond the Rocky Mountains being 
free of it. 


CHINOOK-ENGLISH 


A 

Ab'-ba (J). Well; very well. 

Ack (J). Nephew. 

Ah'-ha. Assent: yes. Usually a nasal sound, as if 
pronouncing aha without opening the lips. This 
word (or mumbling) is common to all Coast tribes. 

Ah-mo'-teh. Strawberry—plant or fruit. Corrupted 
into almota occasionally. 

Ahn'-kut-ty. Formerly; in the past. Prolonging the 
first syllable gives the sense of long ago. 

A'-kik, or more commonly ik'-kik. A fishhook. 

A-lSh' (J.). Expresses surprise. “Alah mika chahco!” 
“Behold, here you are!” 

Al'-ki, al'-kee. Presently; not so fast; by-and-by. 

Al'-li-kS-cheek' (?). A small shell worn as an orna¬ 
ment for the ear. 

Al'-t4. Now; at this time. 

A-nSh! Expresses displeasure or disapprobation. 
“Anah, nawitka mika halo shem!”—“Ah, indeed, 
are you not ashamed!” 

An-de-al'. A wasp. 

Ap-po'-14 (J). See la-pel'-la. 

A-shuk' (O. C.). Snow. 

Ats. A sister, younger than the person speaking of her. 

A-yih'-whul. (S.) To lend; also to borrow. 

At-I-min' (O. C.). Dead. 


B 

Ba'-lee. Striped. 

Be-bay' (F.). To kiss; to fondle. 
Bed. A bed. 

Bit. A dime or sixpenny piece. 



48 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Bloom. A broom. Mamook bloom, to sweep. 
Boat. A boat, as distinguished from a canoe. 
Boston. American; an American. 

Boston Ill'-a-hee. The United States. 

Bur-dash (F.). A hermaphrodite. 

By-by. By-and-by. 


0 

Cal-i-peen' (F.). A rifle; carbine. 

Ca-nim'. A canoe. 

Canim stick. Cedar, the wood from which canoes were 
usually made. 

Ca-po' (F.). A coat; a cloak. 

Cap'-a-la. The cheeks. 

Chah'-co. To come; to become; to grow. “Konsi 
mika chacho?” “When did you come?” “Chaco 
Sol lex,” to become angry. “Chahco spoah,” to fade. 
“Chah'co kloshe,” to get well, to become good. 

Chak'-chak. The white-headed eagle. 

Chau (O. C.). Today. 

Chee. New; lately; just now. “Chee nika klatawa,” 
I am going right away. “Hyas chee,” entirely 
new. 

Chee-chee (O. C.). Small bird. 

Chesp. Neck. 

Chet'-lo. An oyster; oysters. 

Chet-woot. A black bear. 

Chick'-a-min (N.). Any metallic substance. “T'kope 
chickamin,” silver. “Pil chickamin,” copper, gold, 
brass (red metal). 

Chik-chik (J). A wagon; a wheel or wheels; a rail¬ 
road car or train. 

Chil-chil. A button; badge. 

Chis. Cold. 

Chitch (S.). Grandfather. 

Chope (S.). Grandmother. 

Chotub. A flea. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


49 


Chuck. Water; river. “Salt chuck,” the sea. “Skoo- 
kum chuck,” a rapid river, or rapids. “Sollex 
chuck,” a rough sea. “Chuck chahco,” the water 
comes (flood tide). 

Chuk-kin. To kick. 

Cly. To cry; mourning; weeping. 

Cole. Cold. “Cole illahee,” winter, cold weather, 
year. “Cole sick,” ague, chills and fever. “Ikt 
cole,” one year. 

Co'-lee-co'-lee. A rat. 

Comb. Comb. “Mamook comb,” to comb. “Mamook 
comb illahee,” to harrow. 

Coo'-lee. To run. “Coolee kuitan,” a race horse. 
Coolee also signifies a narrow valley, usually dry, 
through which spring floods run during the melt¬ 
ing of the snow. (Probably from French “courir”). 

D 

Da'-go. Gnats (“No-see-’em). 

De-late' (F.). Straight; direct; true. “Delate wawa,” 
to tell the truth. “Klatawa delate,” to go directly, 
walk straight, to keep the road. 

De-aub' (F.). The devil. 

Dly. Dry. 

Doc'-tin. A doctor. 

Dol-la. A dollar; money. “T'kope dollar,” silver 
money. “Pil dolla,” gold. 

Dolla see-ah'-wust. Spectacles (eyes one pays for). 

E 

Ek-skaun (O. C.). Wood; wooden. 

E-kone'. Good spirit. 

E'-ku'-toch. Bad spirit 

Ee'-nS. Beaver. “Eena stick,” willow (beaverwood). 

Ee'-na-poo. Louse. “Sopen eenapoo,” flea (jump 
louse). 

Ee'-na-ti, or inati. The other side; across. 

Eh-kah'-nam. A tale; a story. 


50 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Ek'-keh. A brother-in-law. 

E'-la-han, or Elann. Aid; alms. “Mamook elann,” to 
help, to give alms or assistance. 

E-lak'ka. The sea otter. 

E-co'la. A whale. 

E'-lip (Ch.). First; foremost; before; soon, speedily; 

more. “Elip kloshe,” the best. “Elip mamook 

piah,” make a fire first. “Klatawa elip,” go ahead, 
in front. “Elip tilakum,” the first people (a race 
supposed to have inhabited the country before the 
Indians. 

E-li'-te. A slave. 

E-meek (J.). The back. 

E-meets' (J.). The nose. 

E-mi'h (J.). The breast; the chest. 

E-quan'-nat. The Chinook word for salmon. This 

word is the original of Quinnat, a specific name 
for the Chinook or king salmon. 

E-salth' (W.). Maize; Indian corn. 

E-tam'-a-na (S.). A prophet. 

Ee'-tin-will (S.). The ribs. 

Es'-sal (O. C.). To come. 

Et-shum (O. C.). The heart. 

Eth'-lan, it-lan. A fathom:. 

Et-sit-sa (S.). Sick. 

E'-wash. Penis; membrum virile. 


G 

Gleese. Fat; oil; grease. “Hiyu gleese,” very fat. 

“Tootoosh gleese,” butter. 

Gleese pi'-ah. A candle. 

Get-up', or ket-op'. To rise; get up. 

Goom, or la-goom (F.). Pitch; resin. 

Goom stick. Pine, fir or spruce. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 

H 


51 


Ha-an (O. C.). To kill. 

Hah-lakl'. Wide; open. “Mamook hahlakl lapote,” 
open the door. “Chahco hahlakl/' to become more 
open, as a clearing in the forest. 

Haht-haht (iN.). Mallard duck. See also Kweh-kweh. 

Hak'-a-chum. A handkerchief. 

Ha-let. To tremble. 

Ha-lo (J.). None; absent; not. “Kah nika komooks?” 
Where is my dog? “Halo,” not here. “Halo 
wind,” a calm; dead. “Klap nika pish?” Are you 
catching any fish? “Halo,” not any. 

Hal-tash. Unaware; undesigned. 

Haul, mamook haul. To pull; to haul. 

Hee'-hee. Amusement; joke; fun. “Mamook heehee,” 
to make fun. “Heehee house,” any place of amuse¬ 
ment. 

Heltsh (O. C.). To laugh. 

Hoh'-hoh. To cough. 

Hoo'-ee-hoo-ee (F.). To change; exchange; barter; 
trade. “Hooeehooee tumtum,” to change our mind. 
“Hooeehooee kushis,” change stockings. “Kahta 
hoeehooee mika kuitan ?” How will you trade your 
horse ? 

Hool'-hool. A mouse. “Hvas hoolhool,” a rat. 

Hd'-ku-mel (Ch.). To gather; to glean. 

House. House; dwelling. “Markook house,” a store. 

Howh. Turn to, or get to work briskly; hurry. 

How. Listen; attend. 

How-kwutl'. Expresses inability. How could? Can¬ 
not. “How-kwutl klap yahka?” How could I find 
her? 

Hul-lel'. To shake; or mamook hullel. “Mamook 
hullel sapolil,” sift, or stir the flour or wheat. 

Hul-oi'-mee. Strange; different; other. “Hyas huloi- 
mee,” very strange. “Huloimee tilakum,” other 
people; a different tribe. 

Humm (J.). A stench or smell. “Kloshe humm,” a 
good smell. 

Humm o-pooch. Skunk. 


52 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Hunl'-kih. Curled; curly; crooked; knotted. 

Hi-yu'. Much; plenty; enough; many. “Hiyu muck- 
amuck,” plenty to eat. “Wake hiyu,” not many; a 
few. “Tenas hiyu,” some; a few. 

Hy-ak'. Hurry; hasten; swift; sudden; make haste. 
“Hyak mamook issick,” paddle swiftly. 

Hy-as' (N.). Great; very; large. “Hyas ahnkutty,” 
long ago. “Hyas markook,” very dear, high priced. 
“Hyas kloshe,” very good or nice. 

Hy-kwa (N.). Shell money or wampum. This for¬ 
merly was used as money among Northwestern In¬ 
dians. The kind prized most highly was the 
dentalium, a long, white, quill-like shell, procured 
in deep water from the coasts of the straits and in¬ 
land seas by thrusting a mass of blubber attached 
to a long pole down upon the shells, which grew 
point up on the rocks, and thus detaching them. It 
was strung upon sinews about a fathom in length. 
These same shells were sometimes worn as orna¬ 
ments in pierced ears and noses. A smaller kind 
of the same shell was also used as money and 
called coop-coop. 

Hwah! (J.). Exclamation of surprise. Ah, indeed! 

I 

Ik-hol' (O. C.). River; stream. 

Ik-kik'. A fishhook. 

Ik-poo-ee. To shut; close; closed; shut up. “Ikpooee 
lapote,” shut the door. “Ikpooee kwolonn'” (shut 
ear), deaf. 

Ikt. One; once; a; an. “Ikt kuitan,” a horse. “Ikt 
nika yahwa,” I was there one time. 

Ik'-ta. A thing; that thing. “Iktas,” goods; merchan¬ 
dise, clothes. “Tenas iktas,” trifles. 

Ik'-tah? What? “Iktah okoke?” What is that? “Ik- 
tah mika tikeh?” What do you want? 

Ill'-a-hee. Country; earth; the ground; soil; land. 
“Tipso illahee,” grassy land or prairie. “Sah'-ha- 
lee illahee,” hills, mountains, heaven. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


53 


In'-a-ti, or ee'-na-tl. Across. “Inati chuck,” over the 
river. 

Ip'-soot. To hide; keep secret; concealed; a secret. 
“Ipsoot klatawa,” to steal away. “Ipsoot wawa,” to 
whisper. 

Is'-sick. A paddle. “Mamook issick,” to paddle. 

Is'-sick stick. Alder; ash. (Literally, paddlewood.) 

Is'-kum, To take; to get; hold; take hold of. “Iskum 
okoke komooks,” hold that dog. “Mika na iskum?” 
Did you get it? 

It'-lan, or ethlon. A fathom; the length of the arms 
extended. 

It'-lo-kum. A game played with small marked sticks, 
called sometimes the game of “hand.” This was a 
favorite gambling play of the Indians. “Mamook 
itlokum,” to gamble. 

Itl-wil-lec. Flesh; meat. “Konaway yahka itlwillee 
sick,” All his flesh is sore. 

Its'-woot. The black bear. 

Itswoot pa-see'-see. Thick dark cloth; blankets. 

K 

Ka-dee'na. To fight. “Clatsop tilakum kadeena Che- 
halis,” The Clatsops fight with the Chehalis. 

Kah? Where? whence? whither? “Kah mika klata¬ 
wa?” Whither are you bound? “Konaway kah,” 
everywhere. “Kah-kah,” here and there. 

Kah-kah. A crow. 

Kah'-kwa (N.). Like; equal with; so; as; thus, “Kah- 
kwa nika tumtum,” I think so too. “Kahkwa skoo- 
kum Sam,” As strong as Sam. “Kahkwa spose,” 
as if. “Kloshe kahkwa,” that is right, or good, or 
that is so. 

Kah'-na-wee. Acorn; acorns. 

Kahnawee stick. The oak. 

Kais (O. C.). Stone; rock. 


54 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Kah'-ta? How? why? what? “Kahta mika nen?” 
What is your name? “Kahta mika?” What ails 
you? “Kahta yahka klatawa mimee chuck?” Why 
did he go down the river? 

Kal-a-ka-lah'-ma. A goose; the wild goose. 

Kal-a-kwah'-tee. The silky inner bark of the cedar. 
This bark, stripped in long filaments and made 
fast to a cord or sinew in a long fringe, was worn 
by Chinook and other Indian women of the lower 
country for skirts and capes. The word also 
means a skirt, from the above use. Chinese and 
Japanese make similar garments of long grass. 

Kam'as (N.), or lakamas, or camass {Cam. esculenta ). 
An edible bulb, a species of hyacinth, which was 
and still is a principal food of the Indians. It is 
eaten raw, and is also beaten into a pulp, dried in 
cakes and eaten in lieu of bread. It is abundant 
from the Coast Range to the Bitter Root Moun¬ 
tains. The flower is blue, the plant and blossom 
resembling a hyacinth. 

Ka-mo'-suk. Beads. “Tyee kamosuk,” the large blue 
beads so highly prized in the fur-trading days. 

Kan'-num (O. C.). God. 

Kap-swal'-la. To steal. “Kapswalla klatawa,” to 
sneak off. “Kapswalla mamook,” to do secretly. 

Kass'-kas (O. C.). A boy. 

Kat'-suk. The middle or center of a circle or other 
figure or thing. 

Kah-lo'-ken. A swan. 

Kah'-po. Elder brother or cousin. 

Kau'-pee. Coffee. 

Ka-wak' (Ch.). To fly. 

Kaw-ka-wak'. Yellow or yellowish green. 

Keel'-a-py. To turn; return; overturn; upset. “Hyak 
klatawa,” go fast. “Keelapy canim,” to upset the 
canoe. “Keelapy kopa house,” return home. “Mam¬ 
ook keelapy,” send, bring or take back. “Keelapy 
tumtum,” to change the purpose. 

Kee'-kwil-ly. Below; beneath; down. “Mamook kee- 
kwilly,” lower away; let down. “Mitlite keekwil- 
lee,” set down; put under. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


65 


Keel'-al-ly. A doctor; a medicineman. 

Keep'-woot. A thorn; a needle or pin; sting of an 
insect. “Shoe keepwoot,” shoemaker’s awl. 

Kegh'che. 'Notwithstanding; although. “Keghche mika 
wawa wake mamook,” Although he said not to 
do it. 

Keh'-wa (?). Because. “Kehwa yahka memaloose,” 
because she (or he, or it) is dead. 

Ke'-lok. The crane. 

Ken-ki-am. At the right; right-hand side. 

Ket'-ling. A kettle, dish, can or pail. 

Ket-wil-la. A pit; a cellar. 

Kil-it'-sut. Flint; glass. 

Kim'-ta. Behind; since; last; after. “Mitlite kimta,” 
stay behind. “Kimta nika nanich salt chuck,” 
Since I saw the ocean. “Okoke kimta,” That one 
behind the others. “Nika elip, pe yahka kimta,” I 
in front and he in the rear. 

Ki'-nootl, or ki noos. Tobacco. 

King George, or, as pronounced kin-chautsh. British. 

Kish-kish. To drive; to herd, as a band of horses or 
cattle. 

Kissu. An apron. 

Kit-sut-qua. Old name of Columbia City. 

Ki'-yah (Ch.). Entrails; bowels. 

Klah. Visible; in sight; free of. “Klatawa klah,” to 
escape; to get away. “Chahco klah,” has many 
meanings. Spoken of seed planted, it means “out 
of ground, sprung up”; of the weather, “to clear 
up, or clear”; of the forest, “to become more open.” 
“Mamook klah,” uncover. 

Kla'-ha-nee, or kla-ha-nee'. Out; outside; out-of-doors. 
“Klatawa klahanee,” to go out or off. “Klatawa 
nesika klahanee kopa town,” Let us go away from 
the city. “Mamook klahanee okoke,” Put that out¬ 
side. 

Klah'-e-tlak. Grasshopper. 

Kla-how'-ya. Salutation at meeting or parting; how 
are you? good-bye. “Klahowya six,” Good-day, 
friend; good-bye, friend. 



56 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Kla-how'-yum. Poor; wretched; compassion. “Mam- 
ook klahowyum,” to give alms; to take pity. “Hyas 
klahowyum nesika,” We are very poor. 

Klak. Take off or take away; get out. “Klak kopa 
ooehut,” Get out of the road. “Mamook klak capo,” 
Take off the coat. “Klak kwolonn,” to clip off 
the ears. 

Klak'-wun (Ch.). To wipe or lick. “Klakwun latahb,” 
wipe off the table. 

Klale. Black or dark-colored; ignorant; obscure. 

Klap. To find; to catch. “Mika klap kuitan?” Did 
you catch the horse?” “Klap tenas,” to be with 
young. 

Kla-nite. Thread; twine. 

Kla-poo-chus. Beard. 

Klas'-ka. They; them; their. 

Klat'-a-wa (N.). To go; to walk. “Klatawa teah- 
wit,” go afoot. “Mamook klatawa,” to send. 
“Klatawa klah,” to escape. 

Kla-whop.' A hole. “Mamook klawhop,” dig a hole. 

Kla'-wa. Slow; slowly. “Wawa klawa,” speak 
slowly. 

Klax'-ta? Who? Which one? “Klaxta iskum la- 
hash?” Who took the ax? “Klaxta mika?” Who 
are you? Any; “Klaxta man,” anybody. 

Klik'-a-mux. Blackberries; dewberries. 

Klick'-wal-ly. Brass armlet; brass wire. 

Klilt. Sour; bitter. 

Klim-in'-a-wit. A lie; to lie. “Hyas kumtux klim- 
inawit,” he is a great liar. 

Klim-min'. Soft; fine in substance. “Klimmin illa- 
hee,” mud; marshy ground. “Mamook klimmin,” 
make fine or soft, bv rubbing, etc. 

Klip. Deep; sunken. “Klipsun,” sunset. “Klip klaw¬ 
hop,” a deep hole or pit. 

Klis'-kwis. A mat, made of rushes or grass. 

Klo-klo. Oysters. Chetlo is another word for oyster. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


57 


Klo-nass\ Perhaps; who knows? I don’t know. “Klo- 
nass nika mamook,” Maybe I will do it. “Kah 
nesika ooehut?” (Where is our road?) “Klonass,” 
I don’t know. 

Klone. Three; thrice. 

Kloochman (N.). Woman; female. “Tenas klooch- 
man,” a girl. “Kloochman kuitan,” a mare. 

Klook. Crooked. “Klook teahwit,” lame, crooked leg. 

Kloshe (N.). Good; nice; well. “Hyas kloshe,” very 
good. “Kloshe nanich,” look out; take care. 

Kloshe spose. Shall I ? may I ? “Kloshe spose nika sit- 
chum?” What if I swim? 

Kluh, or klugh-klugh. To tear; to rend. “Mamook 
kluh illahee,” to plough (to tear the ground). 

Kluk-uir (Ch.). Broad; wide; flat. 

Ko (J.). To reach; to arrive. “Chee nika ko,” I have 
just come. “Konse mika ko kopa Clatsop?” When 
will you reach Clatsop? 

Kd'-ko. To knock; to tap. “Koko stick” (knock wood), 
the woodpecker. 

Kok'-shut (N.). To break; destroy; broken; killed; to 
beat. “Kokshut Simon teahwit,” Simon’s leg is 
broken. “Mesahchee Siwash kokshut Whitman,” 
Bad Indians slew Whitman. 

Kom'-ooks, or komox. A dog. “Kahkwa komooks,” like 
a dog. 

Kon'-away. All; every. “Konaway kah,” everywhere. 
“Konaway tilakum,” everybody. “Mika tikeh kon- 
away,” You want everything. 

Kd'-pa. To; in; at; with; toward; concerning; about; 
there; than. “Markook kopa Boston man,” Trade 
with the American. “Lolo kopa mika,” take with 
you. “Kultus kopa nika,” It does not concern me. 
“Elip hyas markook kopa konaway,” more precious 
than all. 

K5-pet'. Stop; enough; leave off. “Kopet wawa,” stop 
talking. “Kopet ikt,” only one. “Kopet okoke,” 
that is all. “Kopet tomollah,” day after tomorrow. 
“Kopet kuntux” (no more know), forgotten. 


58 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Ko'-sho. Pig; swine. 

Kow. To tie; to fasten, “Ikt kow,” a bundle. 

Kul'-lah. A fence; an enclosure. 

KulMa-kur-la. A bird. 

Kull. Hard; solid; difficult. “Mamook kull,” to make 
hard. “Kull stick,” oak, or any hard wood. “Kull 
to-toosh',” cheese. 

Kul'-tus. Worthless; bad; purposeless. “Kultus pot¬ 
latch,” a free gift. “Kultus nanich,” a peep with¬ 
out charge. “Kultus mitlite,” doing nothing; sit¬ 
ting idly. “Kultus heehee,” a jest. 

Kon'see. How many? how much? ever; when. “Kon- 
see tilakum?” How many people? “Konsee chahco 
Jim?” When will Jim come? “Wake konsee,” 
never. “Mamook konsee,” to count; to reckon. 

Kon'-a-mox. Both; together; with. “Konamox mika,” 
with you. 

Koo'-sa. The sky; heaven. 

Kush'is (Ch.). Stockings; socks. 

Kwad'-dis (J.). Whale. Ecola also means whale. 

Kwahta. Quarter of a dollar. 

Kwahl (Ch.). Aunt. 

Kwaht'l. Drop the sail. 

Kwaist. Nine; ninth. 

Kwa-Tim' (O. C.). Young. 

Kwal-lal'. To gallop. 

Kwan. Glad; content; tame. Kwal is sometimes used 
for tame, also. 

Kwass. Fear; fearful; tame. “Mamook kwass,” to 
tame. 

Kwates (Ch.). Sour. 

Kweh-kweh. A mallard duck. 

Kwek'-wi-es (Ch.). A pin. 

Kwetl (Ch.). Proud. 

Kwi-se-o. Porpoise. 

Kwin'-num. Five; fifth. 

Kwish. Expression of contempt or refusal. 

Kweu-kwe-u. A ring; a circle. 

Kwis-kwis. A squirrel (the red or pine squirrel). 

Kwit-shad-ee. (N.) The rabbit or hare. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


59 


Kwo-lon (Ch.). Ear; ears. 

Kwon'-e-sunx (?). Always; forever. 

Kwult. To bruise or wound with a stone, shot or 
arrow; to wound, without cutting. 

Kwun-num'. To count; numbers. (Konsee is much 
more used.) 

Kwutl. To push; to squeeze; secure; fast. “Mamook 
kwutl chick-chick,” Push the wagon hard. 

Ky'-hva. Crooked. 


L 


La-bleed' (F.). A bridle. 

La-boos (F.). The mouth. “Mox laboos,” the forks of 
a stream. 

La-boo-tai' (F.). A bottle. 

La-cal-lat' (F.). Carrot. 

La-cas-ett' (F.). A trunk, box or chest. 

La-clo'-ah (F.). The cross. 

Lagh. To lean, stoop, bend; to tip, as a boat. “Wake 
nika lagh canim,” I did not tip the canoe. “Yahka 
lagh kahkwa oleman,” He stoops like an aged man. 

La-gleese. See gleese. 

La-goom (F.). Pitch; rosin; glue. “La-goom stick,” 
pine, spruce, or any resinous tree. 

La-hash (F.). An ax or hatchet. 

La kam'-as. See Kamas. 

La-lah'. To cheat; to trick. “Mamook lalah,” to 
make sport. 

La-lam' (F.). An oar. “Mamook lalam,” to row a 
boat. 

La-lang' (F.). The tongue; speech; language. 

La-lim' (F.). A file. 

La-mass (F.). The ceremony of the mass. 

La-mes'-tin, or le-mes'-sen. Remedy; medicine. (This 
word is not used for magic or the “medicine 
man.”) 

La-mai' (F.). An old woman. (From la me're, 
French.) 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


60 

La-mon'-tay (F.). A mountain. “Klatawa kopa sah- 
halee lamontay,” to ascend to the summit of the 
mountain. 

Le-pe-age (F.). A trap; a snare. 

La-peep' (F.). Pipe for smoking tobacco. 

La-pesh (F.). A pole; specially a setting pole for a 
canoe. 

La-pel'-lah (?). A roast of meat cooked before a fire. 
La-pell' (F.). A shovel; a spade. 

La-pe-osh' (F.). A hoe, or a mattock. 

La-plash (F.). A board; a plank. 

La-p6-ell'. (F.) A frying pan. “Mamook lapoell,” 
to fry. 

La-pool (F.). A hen; poultry. “Siwash lapool,” the 
grouse. 

La-poo-shett' (F.). A fork; hayfork. 

La-pote' (F.). A door. 

La-see' (F.). A saw. 

La-sell (F.). A saddle. 

La-shan-del' (F.). A candle. 

La-shal-loo' (F.). A plough. 

La-shase' (F.). A chair. 

La-shen' (F.). A chain. 

La-shey'. Barley. 

La-shem'-i-nay. The chimney. 

Las-siett' (F.). A plate or dish. 

La-soy' (F.). Silk; satin. 

La-tahb' (F.). A table. 

LS-tate'^ (F.). The head. “Klale latate,” black-haired. 
La-tlah' (F.). A noise; a disturbance. 

La-wen (F.). Oats. 

La-west' (F.). A vest or waistcoat. 

Law'-suk (O. C.). To dance; dance. 

Lazy. Same as in English. 

Le-bar'-do (F.). A shingle; shingles. 

Le-bal'. (F.) A ball; bullet. “Tenas lebal,” small 
shot. 

Le-bis-kwee' (F.). Biscuit; crackers; ship-bread. 
Le-blau' (blond) (F.). A sorrel horse; chestnut-col¬ 
ored. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


61 


Le-bley (F.). Wheat. 

Le-clem (F.). Cream; cream-colored; a “cream”-col- 
ored horse. 

Le-cok' (F.). A cock; a fowl. 

Le-coo' (F.). The neck. 

Le-doo' (F.). A finger. 

Le-gley' (F.). Gray; a gray horse. 

Le-jaub. (See Deaub.) 

Le-kleh' (F.). A key. 

Le-kloo'. (F.) A nail; nails. 

Le-kye' (F.). A piebald horse; a spot; speckled; spot¬ 
ted. “Lekye sammon,” trout, or spent salmon. 
Le-lo'-ba (F.). Ribbon. 

Le-loo' (F.). The big gray wolf. 

Le-mah' (F.). The hand; the arms. “Kloshe lemah,” 
the right hand. “Potlatch lemah,” shake hands. 
Le-mah'-to (F.). A hammer. 

Le-mel' (F.). A mule. 

Le-mo'ld (F.). One that has escaped; wild; untamed. 
Le-moo'-to (F.). Sheep; a flock of sheep. 

Le-pan' (F.). Bread; a loaf of bread. 

Le-pee'-a (F 1 .). The foot; feet. 

Le-pish'-e-mo. The saddle blanket and trappings of a 
horse. 

Le-plate' (F.). A priest. 

Le-pwah (F.). Peas. 

Le-sep (F.). Eggs; an egg. 

Le-see'-bld (F.). Spurs. 

Le-sac' (F.). A sack; a bag. 

Le-see'-zo (F.). Scissors; shears. 

Le-sook' (F.). Sugar. 

Le-tau' (F.). The teeth; a tooth. 

Le-pome' (F.). The apple. 

Le-sanjel' (F.). A saddle girth; a sash or belt. 
Le-wet' (F.). A whip. “Mamook lewet,” ply the whip. 
Lice. Rice. 

Lik'-p'ho. A girl. 

Lip'-lip. To boil. “Mamook liplip.” 

Lok'-it. Four. 


62 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


L6'-lo. To carry; to load; to lead or take with one. 

“Lolo kopa boat,” to load a boat. 

Lo-wul'-lo. Round; entire; the whole of anything. 

Lowullo lepome,” a whole apple. 

Lope. Rope. “Skin lope,” a lariat or rawhide rope. 
“Tenas lope,” a cord. 

Luk-ut-chee. Clams. This word is applied only to the 
hardshell or little-neck clam. 

Lum. Rum; spirits of any kind. 

M 


Mac'-ke-son. The chin. 

Mah'-lee (N.). To forget. 

Mar'kook (iN.). To buy; to sell; trade; swap; ex¬ 
change; bargain. “Hyas markook,” high-priced. 
“Tenas markook,” cheap. “Kah nika markook 
pish?” Where can I buy some fish? “Tikeh nika 
markook tenas moosmoos?” Do you want to sell me 
a calf? 

Markook house. A store; trading post. 

Marsh (F.). To leave; remove; throw away; turn 
out. “Marsh puss-puss klahanee house,” Put the cat 
out. “Marsh okoke pish,” Throw that fish away. 
“Marsh nika shoes,” Take off your shoes. “Marsh 
kow nika kuitan,” Untie my horse. “Marsh tenas,” 
to give birth. “Marsh!” Get out! 

Maht-lm'-nee. Off-shore; toward the water. “Keep 
off!” 

Maht-wil'-iee. In-shore; toward the land; “Keep in¬ 
shore.” 

Ma-lah'. Tinware; crockery; earthenware. 

Mal'-leh (F.). To marry. “Mika tikeh malleh mika 
kahpo,” He wants to marry your sister. 

Mal-tee'-ny. Near at hand. 

Mam'-mia. Same as in English. 

Mam'ook. To make; to work; to do; to use. This is 
the most “active” of verbs in the Jargon. Its use 
is shown on every page of this vocabulary. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


63 


Man. Man. Also the male of any animal, as: “Man 
eena,” a male beaver. “Tenas man moolock,” a 
little buck elk. But stallion is “stone kuitan.” 

Mel'-a-kwa (F.). A mosquito. 

Me-lass'. Molasses. 

Mem'-a-loose, or mim-a-loost (These are used equally 
without preference). Dead; to die; death. “Mam- 
ook memaloose,” to kill. “Memaloose Island,” the 
island of the dead. 

Me-sah'-chee. Wicked; bad; cruel; vicious. “Mesah- 
chee tum-tum,” an evil mind. 

Me-si'-ka (plural pronoun). You; your; yours. “Me- 
sika nanich,” you (plural) look. “Mesika illahee,” 
your country. 

Met'-en. Very bad. 

Mika (singular pronoun). Thou; thine; thee. “Mika 
tikeh,” you like. “Mika nem,” your name. “Tyee 
potlatch mika iktah,” The chief gave (or gives) 
thee this thing. 

Mai'-mee. Down stream; with the tide. 

Mis'-chi-mas. (Seldom used.) A slave. See Elite. 

Mit-tass\ Leggins. (This is a Cree word.) 

MIt'-lIte. To stay; reside; camp; remain; to sit; to 
set down; to stay with. This word is also used to 
express “have” and “to be.” “Nesika mitlite kopa 
Wahana ikhol,” We live down near Wahana 
River. “Kah mitlite Moses?” “Nika mitlite siah,” 
I lived far away from here. “Mitlite, six,” Sit 
down, friend. “Mitlite hiyu sammon?” Have you 
plenty salmon? “Mitlite kopa mamma,” Stay with 
mother. 

Mit'-wit. To stand; to arise; erect. “Mitwit stick,” a 
mast; a standing tree. “Mitwit kahkwa skookum,” 
stand like a stout fellow. 

Moxt. Two; twice. 

Moo'-la (F.). Mill. “Stick moola,” sawmill. 

Moo'-lok. An elk. 


64 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Moon (O. C., Oot'-lum). The moon; month. “Klone 
moon,” three months. “Sick moon,” the old or 
waning moon. 

Moos'-moos (K.). Cattle; buffalo. 

Moo'-sum (Ch.). To sleep; sleep. “Tikeh moosum,” 
to be sleepy. “Nika olo moosum,” I am hungry 
(and thirsty) for sleep. “Mesika hiyu moosum,” 
They slept very soundly. 

Mow'-ich (N.). A deer; venison. Sometimes used in 
speaking of a strange or unknown animal, as, 
“Huloime mowich,” a strange beast. 

Mtick'-a-muck. Food; to eat; to drink. “Kloshe muck- 
amuck,” a good meal. “Hiyu muckamuck,” plenty 
to eat. “Muckamuck chuck,” to drink water. 

Musket. A musket; a gun. 

My-ee'-na. To sing; a song. (Old Chinook.) 


N 

Na. An interrogatory interjection. “Sick na mika?” 
Are you sick? 

Na-ha' (from the Chinook t'lkanaah). A mother. This 
word is nearly obsolete. 

Nah! Look here! I say! “Nah, six!” Halloa, friend! 

Nan'-Ich (?) To look; see; search. “Nanich yahka,” 
Look yonder. “iNanich okoke komooks,” Look at 
that dog. “Kloshe nanich,” Take care. 

Nau'-its (Ch.). The sea beach; off-shore. 

Ne-whah'! Here, come here! Bring it here! “Ne- 
whah marnook okoke!” Here! Come do this! 

Na-wit'-ka. Yes; indeed; certainly. “N’awitka nika 
nanich yahka,” Certainlv I saw her. 

Nemi Name. “Yahka nem Solomon,” His name is 
Solomon. 

Nig'-ga. Negro. 

Ni'-ka. I; me; mine; my. 

Ne-nam'-ooks. The land otter. 

Nose. The nose; cape or headland; bow of a boat. 

Now'-ich. Island. (O. C.) 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 

0 


65 


Og-hu-way (O. C.). Much. 

Ok-chock. Shoulders. 

Oke (O. C.). To cry. 

O'-koke. This; that; it. “Iktah okoke?” What is 
that? (or this?). “Okoke sun,” today. “Okoke 
klaxta,” he who; the one who. “Tikeh okoke?” Do 
you want this? (or that?). 

O-kus-tee. A daughter. “Nanich, nika okustee,” Look, 
my daughter. 

O'-la-pits'-kee. Fire. 

O'-le-man. Old; an old man; worn out. “Hiyu ole- 
man okoke calipeen,” This is a very old rifle. 

Ol'-hi-yu. The common seal. 

O'-lil-lee. Berries. “Seahpo olilee,” raspberries; “Shot 
olilee,” huckleberries. 

C/lo. Hungry. “Olo moosum,” sleepy; hungry for 
sleep. “Olo chuck,” thirsty. 

O'-luk. A snake; a reptile. 

O'-na. Clam; clams. This word specially applied to 
“razor” clams. 

C~>'e-hut, or weh'-hut. A road, path or trail. “Chick- 
chick ooehut,” a wagon road. 

Ool'-chus. Herring; herrings. 

Oos'-kan. Bowl; cup. 

Oot'-lum (O. C.). The moon; a month. Ikt ootlura, 
a month, etc. 

One'-kwan. Basket; tin kettle; can. 

O-pit'-keh. A bow for arrow shooting. 

O-pit'-sah. A knife. The table fork is sometimes 
called “opitsah six,” the “friend of the knife.” 
Opitsah six is sometimes used to denote a lover— 
a fork (and spoon) to every knife. 

O-pooch. Tail; posterior; stern of a vessel or boat 
“Humm opooch” is a usual name for the skunk. 


66 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


O-quah'-tum. (?) Sister. 

O-quk'-a-kull. A wife; woman; sweetheart. 
O-quan'-ax. The neck. 

Ots-ats-ach. Teeth. 

O'-tlah. The sun. 

Ow. Brother, younger than the person speaking. 
Ow-woo'-chee. Swan. 


P 

Paht'l. Full. “Mamook pahil,” fill, make full. “Pahtl 
chuck,” dripping wet. “Pahtl lum,” drunk. “Pahtl 
illahee,” very dirty. 

Paint or pent. Paint. 

Pa-mas'. (O. C.) Cold. 

Papa. Same as in English. 

Pa-see'-see. Blanket; woolen cloth. 

Pa-see'-ooks. French or Canadian French. This word 
signifies “blanket-men,” and was applied to the 
early trappers. 

Pat'suk. Between. 

P'che. (?) Thin, flat, like a board. (Little used 
now). 

Pe-chuk'. Green in color. 

Pee. (F.) And, then, beside. “Kamooks pee puss- 
puss,” dog and cat. “Pee kahta nika klatawa?” 
Then why did I go? 

Pa'-pah. Paper; a letter or any writing. “Mamook 
papah,” to write; to write a letter. 

Pel'-ton. Crazy; demented; foolish. (This word was 
taken by the Indians to signify crazy, hearing it 
applied to a demented man named Pelton among 
the Astorians of x8xi.) 

Pe-shak.' (N.) Bad. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


67 


Pe-what'-ty. Flimsy; thin; slight. Thin like paper. 
“Hiyu pewhatty okoke paseesee,” this blanket is 
mighty thin. 

Pi'-ah. Fire; cooked; ripe. “Piah sapolil,” baked 
bread. “Piah ollilee,” ripe berries. “Piah chick- 
chick,” railroad train. “Mamook piah,” make the 
fire. “Piah sick,” venereal disease. “Sahhalee 
piah,” lightning. 

Pil. Red, reddish. “Pil chickamin,” gold money; 
also the metals gold, brass, copper. “Pil illahee,” 
red earth, ochre. “Pil kuitan,” a bay horse. PiT- 
kwa-tim, (red shoulders) the blackbird. 

Pil-pil. Blood; bloody. “Marsh pilpil,” to bleed. 

Pish. A fish; to fish. “Doctin' klatawa pish tzum 
samrnon,” doctor is going trout fishing. “Yahka 
wake iskum hiyu pish,” he will not catch many 
fish. 

Pish-pish. See puss-puss. 

Pit-lill. (?) Thick; viscid. “Melass cole, hiyu pit- 
lill,” cold molasses is very thick. 

Pu-pu'. Stench; to stink. 

Poh. A puff of breath. To blow out, as a candle. 
“Mamook poh,” to fire a salute. “Mox poh,” a 
double-barreled gun. 

Po-lak'-ly. Dark; night. “Tenas polakly,” evening. 
“Hyas polakly,” very dark. “Sitkum polakly,” 
midnight (“half the night.”) 

Po'-lal-ly. Dust; sand; gunpowder. “Polally illahee,” 
sandy ground. 

Poo-lee (F.).. Rotten. “Poolee lapome,” a rotten 
apple. 

Pos. Suppose. Used sometimes instead of spose. See 
spose. 

Pot'-latch. (N.) To give; a gift. “Potlatch nika 
lesac,” give me the bag. “Kultus potlatch,” a gift 
without prospect of recompense. (A “bad gift” 
in an Indian’s view.) 


68 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Pow'-ich. The native thornapple or crabapple. 

Pow'-il. To swell. 

Pows. Halibut. 

Puk-puk. (J.) A blow with the fist; to strike. 
Mamook pukpuk,” to box; to fight. 

Puss-puss. A cat. In the North called pish-pish. 
“Hyas pusspuss,” the panther. 

s 

Sah'-ha-lee. Above; up; high; heaven; the top. 
“Mamook sahhalee,” lift up; haul away. “Sah¬ 
halee lamontai,” a high mountain. “Sahhalee 
Tyee,” the Great Spirit (literally “the Chief 
above.”) 

Sail, sell or sill. A sail; cotton or linen cloth. 

Sa-kul'-lex. Trousers; leggins. “Keekwilly sakullex,” 
drawers. 

Sal-lal'. Salal. An evergreen shrub growing abund¬ 
antly in western Oregon and Washington, bearing 
a large purple berry in clusters. This fruit was 
dried by the Indians for winter use. 

Sammon. Usually written thus in the Jargon. Same 
as salmon. “Tyee sammon,” (specifically) the 
King salmon of northern sounds and straits. “Kul- 
tus sammon,” the kelts or spent salmon of the rivers 
in autumn and winter. “Tzum sammon,” steel- 
head and other trouts. 

Salt. Salt. “Salt chuck,” or “klil chuck,” the sea. 

San'-de-lee. (F.) Ash-colored; a “roan” horse. 

Sap'-o-lil. Flour or meal; wheat. “Piah sapolil,” 

baked bread; “Lowullo sapolil,” whole wheat. 

Se-ah'-p5. (Nl) A cap or hat. “Seahpo olillee,” 

raspberries, salmon berries. 

Se-&h'-wust. The face; the eyes; an eye. “Ikt seah- 
wust,” one-eyed. “Halo seahwust,” blind. “Lockit 
seahwust,” or “dolla seahwust,” spectacles. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


69 


Se-at'-co. (Ch.) A goblin or nocturnal demon, greatly 
feared by the Coast Indians. 

Seed. Seed. 

Se-loke'-mil. A window. 

She-lock'-um. A mirror, glass. 

She'-li-po. Frozen; ice; icy. 

Shem. Shame. “Halo shem mika?” Are you not 
ashamed? 

Ship. A vessel. “Piah ship,” a steamboat or steam¬ 
ship. 

Shilth'-lo. (O. C.) Lightning. 

Shoes. Shoes. “Stick shoes,” boots or shoes made of 
leather. “Skin shoes,” moccasins. 

Shon'-tay. (F.) To sing. 

Shoo. (O. C.) Old. 

Shot. Shot; lead. “Shot olillee,” huckleberries. 

Shug. A rattle. “Shug opoots,” a rattlesnake. 

Shut. Shirt. 

Shwah'-kuk. (Ch.) A frog. 

Shwal'-peh. (O. C.) A tree. 

Si'-ah'. (N.) Far; far off. Drawling out the syl¬ 
lable “ah” serves to express great distance. The 
same purpose is served also by repeating, siah-siah'. 

Si-am'. The grizzly bear. 

Sick. Sick; sickness. “Cole sick,” ague. “Waum 
sick,” fever. 

Sin'-a-mox. Seven. 

Sing. Sing. 

Si'-pah. (W.). Straight; erect. 

Sis'-ki-you. A bob-tailed horse. (This word is Cree). 

Sit'-kum. A half; a part. “Sitkum sun,” noon. Sit¬ 
kum dolla,” half a dollar. “Tenas sitkum,” a 
quarter or smaller portion. 

Sit-lay. (F.) Stirrup; stirrups. 

Sit'-shum. (C.) To swim. 


70 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Six. A friend. (Not addressed to women.) 

Si'-wash. (Sauvage.) Indian; an Indian. 

Skad. A mole. 

Skin. Skin; hide. “Skin shoes,” moccasins. “Stick 
skin,” the bark of a tree. 

Sket-sot'-wa. The Columbia river. This name was 
indicative of the “lower” river. 

Skoo'-kum. Strong; brave; great. (Originally a Che- 
halis word meaning a demon, a powerful spirit). 
“Skookum tumtum,” a brave spirit. “Skookum 
chuck,” a rapid. “Skookum house,” a jail. 

Skub'-e-oo. (O. C.) Skunk. 

Skwak-wal. The lamprey eel. 

Skwiss-kwis. The chipmunk or striped squirrel. 

Sla-hal'. A game, played with ten small discs in 
the hands of each player. 

Sma-nas. (O. C.) Hill or mountain. 

Smeet-ok. (Ch.). The quahaug or large mud clam. 

Smok-smok. (O. C.) Grouse. 

Smoke. Smoke; clouds; fog; steam. 

Snass. (?) Rain. “Cole snass,” snow. 

Snow. Snow. 

Soap. Soap. 

So'-le-mee. The cranberry. 

Sol'-lex. (?) Angry; anger. “Mamook sollex,” to 
make angry; to quarrel. 

So'-pe-na. To leap; to jump. “Neal sopena chahco 
boat,” Neal jumped into his boat. 

Spd'-ah. Faded. Any pale color, as grey, buff, etc. 

Spoon. Spoon. 

Spose. Suppose; if; provided that. “Spose mika nan- 
ich nika lahash,” if you see my ax. “Spoke nesika 
klatawa kopa Astoria,” when we go (if we go) 
to Astoria. “Kahkwa spose,” as if. “Kloshe 
spose,” shall I, or may I. “Kloshe spose nika ayah- 
whul mika issick?” May I borrow your paddle? 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


71 


Stick. A stick; a tree; wood; wooden. “Mitwit stick,” 
a standing tree. “Kull stick,” hardwood; oak. 
“Ikt stick,” a yard stick. “Ship stick,” a mast. 

Stloo. (O. C.) The wind. 

Stock'-en. Socks or stockings. (Kushis is the Indian 
word). 

Stoh. Loose. “Mamook stoh,” to untie, let loose. To 
absolve. “Mamook stoh komooks,” let loose the 
dogs. 

Stone. A rock or stone. Also signifies horn, bone. 
“Stone kuitan,” a stallion. 

Stoo'-lis. (O. C.) Rain. 

Stote'-kin. Eight; an eighth. 

Stut'-chun. Sturgeon. 

Suk-wal'-lal. A gun. (Obsolete.) 

Sun. Sun; a day. “Tenas sun,” morning. “Sitkum 
sun,” noon. “Klip sun,” sunset. 

Sunday. Sunday. “Ikt Sunday.” a week. “Hyas Sun¬ 
day,” Christmas or other great holiday. “Sunday 
sail,” a flag. Days of the week are reckoned from 
Sunday, as “ikt kopet Sunday” (one after Sunday,) 
Monday, etc. 

Su-puk'. (O. C.) Strong; powerful. 


T 

Tah. A spirit or supernatural thing or person. See 
tamahnawus. 

Tah'-kum. Six. 

Tahl'-kee. Yesterday. “Ikt tahlkee,” day before yes¬ 
terday. 

Tah'-nim. (Ch.) To measure. 

Taht'-lum. Ten. “Tahtlum pe ikt,” eleven. “Taht- 
lum pe mox,” twelve, etc. “Mox tahtlum,” 20. 
“Klone tahtlum,” 30. “Stolekin tahtlum,” 80, etc. 

Tal'is. Darling; beloved. 


72 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Ta-mah'-na-wus. Magic; luck; anything supernatural. 
“Mesahchee tamahnawus,” witchcraft, bewitched. 
“Mamook tamahnawus,” to conjure, to “make 
medicine.” Ghosts and spirits are also “tamahna¬ 
wus.” On reaching manhood, before admission to 
his tribe as an acknowledged “man” and warrior, 
every Indian youth went far away into the forest 
or mountains and fasted many days, bathed often 
in the stream, and prayed to the Sahlee Tyee for a 
revelation of his guardian spirit. This spirit was 
supposed to have his protege in his special care. 
After long fasting, in some moment of delirium, the 
youth saw a real eagle, raven, bear, fox or other 
living creature, or in a dream some such vision 
impressed itself powerfully upon his imagination. 
This guardian or genius was called kawok. 
This bird or animal then became his personal deity 
or genius, and to it he looked for aid in all his en¬ 
terprises. The vision was never disclosed, and 
though it was customary to erect a totem upon which 
the emblem was carved, the real genius was known 
only to the protege, because its figure was among 
many others carved upon the totem tree. This was 
the Tamahnawus in its first and principal sense. 
The word is based upon the syllable tah, which 
was widely spread through the vocabulary, signi¬ 
fying supernatural, spiritual, etc. “Tah-wat-tee” 
signified an exorciser or conjurer of spirits, a doc¬ 
tor. 

Ta-md'-lich. Cask; tub; bucket. “Ikt tamolich,” 
bushel. 

Ta-ni'-no. Crevasse; canyon; the vulva. 

Tanse. Dance. 

Tah-oo. (O. C.) Far; far away. 

Tea. Tea. 

Te-a'-lis. (O. C.) Yesterday. 

Te-ah'-wit. The leg; the foot. “Klatawa teahwit,” 
to go afoot. “Klook teahwit,” lame. 

Teh-teh. To trot, as a horse. 

To'-wah. The nails. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


73 


Ten'-as. (N.) Small; few; a child; a little; young 
one. “Klone tenas nika,” I have three children. 
“Tenas sun,” early. “Tenas man,” a boy. “Hiyu 
tenas,” very little indeed. 

Te-peh. Quills; wings of a bird. 

Tel-ux-ach. (S.). The fingers. (See ledoo.) 

Tel'-e-min. (?). Ribs. (Also eetinwill.) 

Tik'-eh. To wish; to like, to love. “Hyas tikeh,” 
to long for. “Iktah mika tikeh?” What do you 
want? 

Tik-tik. A watch. 

Til'-a-kum. People; a man or person. “Huloimee tila¬ 
kum,” strangers, or stranger. “Mika tilakum,” 
your folks. “Kultus tilakum,” common people; 
folks of no importance. 

Till or tull. Tired; heavy; a weight. “Hyas till 
yahka,” he is very tired. “Konsee till okoke kui- 
tan?” How much will that horse weigh? “Mamook 
till,” to weigh. 

Tin-tin. A bell; a musical instrument. “Mamook 
tintin,” ring the bell. Hours were formerly sound¬ 
ed by bells at trading posts, so “klone tintin kopet 
sitkum sun,” (three bells since noon hour) meant 
three o’clock. “Tahtlum tintin elip sitkum sun,” 
ten in the forenoon, etc. 

T'kope. White; light-colored. 

Tlak. (O. C.) Good; to love. 

Tish-ko-ko. (O. C.) Fox. 

Tle-pait. Nerve; nerves. 

Tle'-yuk. A spark of fire. 

Tla-umsh. Drink; to drink. (O. C.) 

Tlkope. To cut; to split; to hew. “Nika tlkope 
lemah,” I cut my hand. 

T'lkul. Quiet; silent. 

Toh. To spit. (Mamook toh.) 

Toke'-tee. Pretty; nice; good. “Hyas toketee kulla 
kulla,” a very pretty bird. “Toketee tenas,” a 
good child. 

Td'-lo. To earn. To win at a game; to gain. “Konsee 
dolla nika tolo spose lolo okoke sac?” How many 
dollars shall I earn if I carry that sack? 


74 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


To'-lux. (N.) Mussels (used only on the Sound and 
northward). 

To-mbl'-la. Tomorrow. “Ikt tomolla (or) kopet to- 
molla,” day after tomorrow. 

Tope'-chin. A patch; to patch. 

To'-to. To shake; to sift; to winnow. 

To-toosh. The breasts of a woman; the udder of an 
animal. “Totoosh gleese,” butter. (Chippewa 
word.) 

Tol'-a-pus. The coyote. Tolapus was a great hero 
and demigod in Indian myth. (See tah.) 

Twah. (J.) Shining; bright; light 

T'sak; mamook t'sak. To stanch a wound. 

Tsa'-lil. Lake. 

Tsee. Sweet. “Tsee kahkwa lesook,” sweet as sugar. 

Tsee'-pee. To miss the mark; to blunder. “Tseepee 
oo ehut,” to take the wrong trail. (Calapooya 
word.) 

Tshi'keh. (?) Soon; directly. 

Tshish. Cold. “Hiyu tshish okoke sun,” it is very 
cold today. 

Tsi-a'-list. A branch. 

Tsish. (J.) Sharp. “Mamook tsish,” to sharpen. 

Tsdle'-put. (K.) A shot-pouch. 

Tso'-lo. To wander in the dark; to lose one’s trail. 
(Calapooya.) 

Tsugh. A crack or fissure. “Chahco tsugh,” to become 
cracked or split by heat. 

Tuk-a-mo'-nuk. A hundred. “Mox, klone, (etc.) tuk- 
amonuk,” two hundred, three hundred, etc. “Taht- 
lum tukamonuk,” a thousand. 

Tuk-wiT-la. The hazelnut. Nuts in general. (Cala¬ 
pooya.) 

Tum'-tum. (J.) The heart; the will; the conscience; 
soul. “Mamook tumtum,” to “make up” the mind. 
“Mox tumtum Joe,” Joe is undecided. “Nika tumr 
tum nesika klatawa wake lalee,” by my determina¬ 
tion we shall go before long. “Sick tumtum,” re¬ 
gret, remorse, disappointment. “Iktah mika tum¬ 
tum?” What do you think? 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


75 


Tum'-wa-ter. (J.) A waterfall or cataract. 
Tup'-shin. (Ch.) A needle. “Mamook tupshin,” to 
sew, to mend. 

Tip-so. A leaf; leaves; grass; fringe; feathers; fur. 
“Tipso illahee,” grassy land, prairie. “Dly tipso,” 
hay, straw. 

T'wah. (J.) Shining; bright; light of a lamp or fire. 
Ty-ee'. Chief. Superior. “Sahhalee Tyee,” the Deity. 
“Tyee sammon” the king salmon—largest and best 
salmon of the northern seas. 

Tzuim Mixed colors; spotted or striped. A mark or 
figure. Written or printed. “Tzum sail,” calico. 
“Mamook tzum,” to write. 


u 


U-al'-tee. Joy; gladness. 

Ubsh. (O. C.) Wood. 

Ul'-ken (sometimes written oo'-la-chan). The smelt of 
the Columbia river. (This word is Clatsop.) 
Ul-a-lach. (K.) Wild onion; onion. 

Ul-chey. The moose. 


w 

Wa'-wii. (N.) Talk, to talk, speak, call, ask, tell, 
answer. “Kultus wawa,” idle talk. “Hyas wawa,” 
to shout, a shout. 

Wagh. To spill; to pour; to vomit. “Mamook wagh 
chuck,” pour some water. 

Wake (N). (Written also wik, wek). No; not. “Wake 
klaxta,” nobody. “Wake konsee,” never. “Wake 
alta,” not now. 

Wap'-pa-to. A water plant (saggitaria saggitifolia) 
of the lower country, having an excellent edible 
tuberous root, formerly much prized by natives and 
whites. On account of its resemblance to the potato 
the latter is called wappato. Probably a Multnoma 
word. 

Wash. Wash. “Mamook wash,” to wash. 


76 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


We-co'-ma. The sea. This word is worth perpetuating. 

Weght. Again; more; also. “Pe nika weght,” and I 
also. “Potlatch weght,” give me more. “Tenas 
weght,” a little more. 

Waum. Warm. “Waum illahee,” summertime. 

Whim (N.). Fallen; to fell. “Whim stick,” a fallen 
tree. “Mamook whim okoke stick,” fell this tree. 

Whul-lah'. (O. C.) Warm. 

Win'-a-pee (N.). By-and-by; presently. (Alki is more 
commonly in use). 

Wind. Wind; breath. “Halo wind,” out of breath; 
dead. The winds are named for the regions from 
which they come, as: south wind, at the mouth of 
the Columbia; Tillamook wind; west wind, Chi¬ 
nook wind; easterly wind, Walla Walla wind. 

Wit'-ka. Now; at present time. 

WootMat. (O. C.) A phallus. Often represented in 
carved pestles. Natural pillars and towers of 
basalt were sometimes called “Wootlat,” and ven¬ 
erated. Rooster Rock was a notable wootlat. 


Y 


Yah'-hul. A name. 

Yah'-ka. He, his, him; she, her, hers; it, its. That 
one; those. 

Yah'-kis-ilth. Sharp; cutting. 

Yah'-wa. There; thither; thence; beyond. 

Yah'-kwa (J.). Here; hither; this way. “Chahco yah- 
kwa kopa nika boat,” come here with your skiff. 
Yak'-a-la (O. C.). An eagle. 

Yak'-so. The hair of the head: hair generally. 
Ya-kwah'-tin. The belly; the bowels. 

Yi'-em (Ch.) To relate or tell. To confess to a priest. 
A tale or story. 

Yootl'-kut. Long in dimension; length. 

Yoots (O. C.) To sit 
Yoot'-skut. Short. 

Yoult (Ch.) Proud; high-spirited. 


CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES 


English. 

Good morning. 

Good evening. 

Good day. 

How do you do? 

Come here. 

How are you? 

Are you sick? 

Are you hungry? 

How did you come? 

Are you thirsty? 

What ails you? 

Would you like something 
to eat? 

Do you want work? 

To do what? 

What do you want me to 
do? 


Chinook. 

Klahowya, six? 
or 

Klahowyam. 

Chdhco yahwa. 

Kahta mika? 

Mika sick? 

*Nah olo mika? 

Kahta mika chahco? 
*Nah, olo chuck mika? 
Kahtah mika? 

Mika tikeh muckamuck? 

Mika tikeh mamook? 

Iktah mika mamook? 


Cut some wood. Mamook stick. 

Certainly. Nawitka. 

How much do you want for Kansee dolla spose mika 
cutting that lot of wood ? mamook konoway okoke 

stick ? 

One dollar. Ikt dolla. 


That is too much. I will Hy'as markook, nika pot- 
give half a dollar. latch sitkum dolla. 



78 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


No! Give three quarters. 

Very well; get to work. 

Where is the ax? 

There it is. 

Cut it small for the stove. 

Give me a saw. 

I have no saw; use the ax. 
All right. 

Bring it inside. 

Where shall I put it? 
There. 

Here is something to eat 

Here is some bread. 

Now bring some water. 
Where shall I get it? 

In the river there. 

Make a fire. 

Boil the water. 

Cook the meat. 

Wash the dishes. 

What shall I wash them 
in? 

In that pan. 

Come again tomorrow. 


Wake, six! Potlatch klone 
quahtah. 

Kloshe kahkwa; mamook 
alta. 

Kah lahash? 

Yah-wa. 

Mamook tenas, spose chick- 
amin pah. 

Potlatch lasee. 

Halo lasee; is'kum lahash. 
Nawitka. 

Lolo stick kopa house. 

Kah nika marsh okoke? 
Yahwa. 

Yahkwa mitlite mika muck- 
amuck. 

Yahkwa mitlite piah sapo- 
lil. 

Klatawa is'kum chuck. 
Kah nika iskum? 

Kopa ikhol yahwa. 

Mamook piah. 

Mamook liplip chuck. 

Mamook piah ohoke itlwil- 
lee. 

Wash ohoke leplah. 

Kopa kah? 

Kopa ohoke ketling. 

Chahco weght tomolla. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


79 


Good-bye. 

Come here, friend. 

What do you want? 

I want you to do a little 
job in the morning. 

Come very early. 

At six o’clock. 

Oh, here you are! 

What do you want me to 
do? 

Carry this box to the 
steamer. 

Take this bag, also. 

What will you pay? 

A quarter. 

Very well; and something 
to eat? 

It is pretty heavy. 

Is that man your brother? 

He can help you, too. 

I will give him something, 
too. 

Can you carry it? 

Is it very heavy? 

Oh, no! We shall do it. 
Are you tired? 


Klahowya. 

Chahco yahkwa, six. 

Iktah mika tikeh? 

Spose mika mamook tenas 
mamook tenas sun? 

Chahco elip sun. 

Chahco yahkwa tahkum 
tintin. 

Alah! Mika chahco. 

Iktah . mika mamook? 

Lolo okoke lacasett kopa 
piah ship. 

Lolo weght lesac. 

Iktah mika potlatch? 

Ikt kwahtah? 

Kloshe kahkwa; pee tenas 
muckamuck? 

Hy'as till okoke. 

Yahka nah mika kahpo, 
okoke man? 

Yahka lolo lecassett kopa 
mika. 

Nika potlatch weght yahka. 

Nah, skookum mika lolo 
okoke. 

Hyas till okoke? 

Wake! Nesika mamook. 

Mika chahco till? 


80 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


How far is it, this ship? Koonsee siah, okoke ship. 

Not much farther. Wake siah alta. 

That is all. Kopet. 

Do you understand Eng- Kumtux mika Boston wa- 
lish? wa? 

No, not very much. Wake hiyu. 

Will you sell that fish? Mika tikeh mahkook okoke 

pish? 

Which of them? Klaxta? 

That large one. Okoke hyas. 

What is the price of it? Konsee chickamin tikeh? 

I’ll give you two-bits. iNika potlatch mox bit. 

I’ll give you half a dollar. Nika potlatch sitkum dolla. 

No, that is not enough. Wake okoke hiyu. 

Where did you catch that Kah mika klap okoke opalo? 
trout ? 

In Skamokaway river. Kopa Skamokaway ikhol. 

Are there many fish there? Nah hiyu lepish yahwa? 

Not many; too much log- Wake; klaska mamook hi- 
ging. yu stick alta. 

Well, I won’t buy it today. Abba, wake tikeh iskum 

okoke sun. 

What do you think of this Iktah mika tumtum okoke 
country? illahee. 

It is very pleasant when it Hyas kloshe yahkwa spose 
does not rain. wake snass. 

Not always; it is worse Wake kwonesum. Chahco 
when it snows and weght peshak spose cole 
freezes. snass pee selipo. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


81 


How long have you lived 
here? (how many years) 

Many years; I forget how 
many. 

I was born at Skipanon. 

Did you get your wife 
here? 

No; she is a Tillamook 
woman. I married her 
at Nehalem. 

How many children have 
you? 

We have three boys and 
one little girl. 

I will send you some 
things for them when I 
get home. 


Konsee cole mitlite yahkwa 
mika ? 

Hiyu cole; kopet kumtux 
konsee. 

Chee tenas nika kopa Skip¬ 
anon. 

Nah, mika iskum nika 
klodchman yahkwa? 

Wake; Tillamook klooch- 
man yahka. Nika malleh 
yahka kopa Nehalem. 

Konsee tenas mika ? 


Klone tenas man nesika pee 
ikt tenas likp'ho. 

Nika mamook chahco iktas 
kimta nika ko nika illa- 
hee. 


The brief examples given above, together with the phrases 
following words in the Chinook-English vocabulary, illus¬ 
trate the use of the Jargon as completely as possible in so 
limited space and with such a condensed idiom. The ab¬ 
sence of the minor parts of speech and inflected forms makes 
the combination of words in sentences either circuitous or 
bluntly direct. The following version of the Lord’s Prayer 
shows the lack of adaptation of the Jargon to any but the 
simplest use, yet it also has a pathos in its rudeness and pov¬ 
erty. How incomplete, even in our English, is the idea we 
get from the words “Thy kingdom cornel" 

This version of the Lord’s Prayer is nearly the same as 
that prepared by some priest for McCormick’s dictionary. 

A “grace” to be said at table, and a hymn, are taken 
from Lee and Frost’s “Ten Years in Oregon.” These two 


82 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


are printed in the book referred to, and show how the Jar¬ 
gon has changed since 1840. 

The spelling of the time of these missionaries has been 
greatly changed. Some words used by them are nearly 
the same as in the present dictionary, but while ensika is 
readily understood for nesika, and ankute for ahncutty, 
ishtumah, minchelute, quotlanchkelah, kadow and several 
other words were apparently picked up among Klickitats and 
Wasco Indians, the work of these two missionaries being 
mostly among the tribes at and near The Dalles. 

A COMMON SIGN LANGUAGE. 

Intercourse by signs was universal among the aborigines, 
the code of signals being much the same from the Atlantic 
to the Pacific. 

Major Lee Moorehouse tells of being at Washington, D. 
C., with a party of Indians from Oregon and Washington, 
attending a great council of representative Indians from all 
parts of the country. Languages were different and the 
gathering clans were cold and morose until somebody made 
an attempt at an address in the sign language, which put 
everybody at ease, for all understood. 

Certain chants and songs were widely known also. The 
Omahas knew at once the “stick-bone” gambling song of the 
Indians of Vancouver Island, upon hearing it sung by a 
student of Indian music. It was the same as their own. 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


83 


A “GRACE” AT TABLE 

From Lee & Frost’s “Ten Years in Oregon’’ 


0 Sohole Ishtumah, etokete mikah; toweah etnkete 
O God. good art Thou; this good 

itlhullam mikah minchelute copa ensikah. Kadow 
food Thou hast given to us. In like manner 

quonesum minchtcameet ensikah, Uminsheetah conawa 
always look kindly upon us, and give all 

etoketa copa mikah, ermehan Jesus Christ. Amen, 
good things to us, for the sake of 


A HYMN IN JARGON 

From Lee & Frost 


Aka eglahlam ensikah 

Mika Ishtamah emeholew 
Kupet mikam toketa mimah 
Mika quonesim kadow 
Mikah ekatlah gumohah 
Mika dowah gumeoh 
Konawa etoketa tenmah 
Mika ankute gumtoh. 

Mikah minchelute ensikah 
Ankute yukumalah 
Konawa edinch aguitquah 
Quonesim ponanakow 
Mikah guminchelute emehan 
Yokah wawot gacheoweet 
Ukah ensikah quotlanchkehah 
Mikam toketa canneoeeb. 

(The hymn and the “grace” are a Jargon of Chinook, 
Wasco, Klickitat and other up-river tribes.) 

TRANSLATION. 

Here we now unite in singing 
Glory, Lord, unto thy Name, 

Only good, and worthy praising, 

Thou art always, Lord, the same. 





84 


CHINOOK DICTIONARY. 


Of the sun Thou art Creator, 

And the light was made by Thee; 
All things, good, yea every creature, 
At the first Thou madest to be. 

We, oh Lord, are all Thy children; 

In the past we wicked were; 

We were all most deeply wretched, 
Always blind and in despair. 

Thou didst give Thy Son, our Saviour, 
He to us instruction gave 
Knowing this we now are happy; 

Thou art good and Thou wilt save. 


THE LORD’S PRAYER 


Nesika Papa klaxta mitlite kopa Sahalee, kloshe kopa 
Our Father who dwellest in the above, sacred in 


nesika tumtum mika nem. Nesika hiyu tikeh 

our hearts (be) Thy name. We greatly long for 

chahco mika illahee; Mamook mika kloshe tumtum 
the coming of Thy kingdom. Do Thy good will 

kopa okoke illahee kahkwa kopa Shalee. Potlatch 
with this world, as also in the heavens. Give (us) 


konaway sun nesika 
day by day our 


muckamuck; pee Mahlee 
bread, and remember not 


konaway nesika mesahchee, kahkwa nesika mamook 

all our wickedness, even as we do also 


kopa klaska spose mamook mesahchee kopa nesika. 
with others if they do evil unto ourselves. 


Wake lolo nesika kopa peshak, pee marsh siah 
Not bring us into danger, but put far away 

kopa nesika konoway mesahchee. 
from us all evil. 


Kloshe kahkwa. 
So may it be. 







































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